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A Call to Holy Living
January 25, 2012 10:02 AM PST
A CALL TO HOLY LIVING 1 PETER 1:13-25 1/22/12
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: Peter continues to paint with a very broad brush. He points forward to the end of time. He connects the Old Testament call to holiness with the same call in the N.T. He reminds us that there will be rewards and consequences at the end of our earthly journey. He calls us to love one another as we travel together. Finally yet importantly, he reminds us again that the Good News is the key to all of these things! 1. Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. APOKALYPSIS=REVELATION 13
PULL UP YOUR PANTS!
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ As we reflect upon 1 Peter 1:14-25 apply each of these thoughts to your life. It is likely that different sections of the passage will connect with different people in your life group. More than anything else… let the Holy Spirit be your teacher and connect the scriptures with your life. For each statement below ask the question… What does this say to me? 3. YOU ARE CALLED TO BE HOLY 14-16 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 5. JESUS RANSOMED YOU FROM YOUR SIN WITH HIS BLOOD 18-21 ________________________________________________________________________ 6. GOD CALLS US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER FROM THE HEART 22/23 ________________________________________________________________________ 7. GOD’S GOOD NEWS IS FOREVER 24/25 ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Thought:
Witness: 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)
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January 15, 2012 05:54 PM PST
THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE 1 PETER 1:3-12 1/15/12
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: After a brief two-verse introduction, Peter comes out swinging. He launches right in with the scattered church and challenges them in multiple areas. He goes after issues of salvation, faith, and trials. He calls believers to a life of love, faith, and trust in the midst of trials. At the heart of his challenge is the good news! Apply the words of Peter to your life. As you think on his key points allow the Holy Spirit to bridge the centuries and make his teaching relevant for you today! 1. What trials do you see facing Christians in our current culture? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Ye must be born again. What does it mean to be born again?
3. Keep the faith. Has anything happened this past couple of years to shake your faith? Take time to pray for one another as the Lord leads. ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Trials are for a little while. Each of us may go through test and trials. Peter is letting us know this is normal. ________________________________________________________________________ 5. We looked at four areas of life that caused trials for the first century Christians. Do any of these areas create tension for Christians with their culture today? A. The issue of Lordship. Does your Christian faith ever cause stress with family, friends, work, school, sports, or spouse? Is there another area of conflict? ________________________________________________________________________ B. They challenged financial structures. How might a Christians use of money be different than a non-Christian? How might Christians annoy pagan culture? ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ D. We behave differently. Think about the moral code of God and the way of life celebrated by modern culture. How would living like a Christian cause your behavior to be different from non-Christians? ________________________________________________________________________ 6. Gain a genuine faith. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? ________________________________________________________________________ 7. Love and Trust Him. Does your life reflect His Lordship? ________________________________________________________________________ 8. Share the good news! Are you sharing the good news with your OIKOS? ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)
January 15, 2012 05:52 PM PST
GREETINGS FROM PETER 1/8/12
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we begin a journey through 1 Peter that will raise the bar of our personal and corporate discipleship! Peter was the undisputed leader of the disciples, and the fledgling church of Jesus Christ. Peter was always willing to speak up and act out. Peter wanted to build a worship center on the mountaintop, walk on the water, and draw swords against the men who took his Lord. Peter ran the gambit from sinful fisherman to reluctant fisher of men. He was outspoken and bold in his commitment to Christ. He was willing to say he did not know Jesus. He was ready to go back to fishing. When Jesus called his name, he was once again the first one out of the boat. Moreover, on the day of Pentecost Peter truly stood and delivered in the power of the Holy Spirit. Church history tells us that at the end of his life, in fulfillment of prophecy, he asked to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to be crucified like his Lord!
1. How do you usually respond to an aggressive challenge?
2. We are going to begin this week with a look at some key moments in the life of Peter. Getting the flavor of the man will help us better understand his letter. As you read the passages, look for what they say about the man! Limit your study to the verses given. Look for character traits. Notice the pattern of bold declarations. A. Matthew 4:18-20 ________________________________________________ B. Matthew 14:24-30 ________________________________________________ C. Matthew 16:21-22 ________________________________________________ D. Matthew 17:4 ________________________________________________ E. Matthew 19:27 ________________________________________________ F. Matthew 26:35 ________________________________________________ G. John 18:10 ______________________________________________________ H. Matthew 26:74 ________________________________________________ I. John 21:15 ______________________________________________________ 3. As you consider the life and personhood of Peter look at yourself. A. Are you ready to jump up and follow Jesus? ________________________________________________________________________ B. Are you ready to risk making huge mistakes? ________________________________________________________________________ C. Are you willing to be forgiven by Christ and move on? ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: At the heart of the Christian’s call is the concept of being a fisher of men. God desires to use each and every one of his children in this global venture. As we commit ourselves to grow in Christ God will give us men and women for us to help on their journey! May God prepare each of us for the work He has for us! Pursue God's Will in 2012
January 04, 2012 09:38 AM PST
PURSUE GOD’S WILL FOR 2012
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: As we begin the New Year my prayer and challenge is that we will pursue God’s will for our dimension of our lives. The New Year is a great time for dreaming, planning, and goal setting. In today’s Life Group we are going to reflect forward in a very broad manner and consider what God may be saying to you for 2012. 1. Where did you spend New Year’s Eve? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Compare the following scriptures to set the stage for today’s conversation. A. Read Ezekiel 43:10-12. What is God’s standard? What was He calling His people back to? _______________________________________________________________________ B. How do the words of Jesus connect with Ezekiel? Matthew 6:9-10 ________________________________________________________________________ 3. We are going to look at several different spheres of influence. As you consider each one ask this simple question! HOW CAN YOU PURSUE GOD’S WILL IN THIS AREA? Do some dreaming, some thinking, and some planning. How can God use you to impact His world? A. Pursue God’s Will for our World! ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ B. Pursue God’s Will for our Country! __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
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December 24, 2011 08:45 AM PST
FINDING CHRISTMAS IN THE CAROLS
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: It is possible that Silent Night is the most widely translated and often sung of all the Christmas Carols. You can find some version of the translated words in almost every language and dialect. The words are so simple, and yet so powerful How amazing that something written by a humble Parish Priest on Christmas Eve 1818 has travelled around the world and touched hearts on every continent. What an example of how God can take a mustard seed and create “the largest plant in the yard.” 1. What was your favorite moment this Christmas Season? 2. Today we are going to look at an ancient translation from the original German of Silent Night. The words are different than the modern version we sing. But the charm, tone, and message are the same. Reflect on what Josef Mohr wrote and what Franz Gruber set to music one Christmas Eve almost 200 years ago. What does each verse teach us about the Christ of Christmas, His Father, and their plan for mankind? A. Silent night! Holy night! All′s asleep, one sole light, Just the faithful and holy pair, Lovely boy-child with curly hair, Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace! B. Silent night! Holy night! God′s Son laughs, o how bright. Love from your holy lips shines clear, As the dawn of salvation draws near, Jesus, Lord, with your birth! Jesus, Lord, with your birth! C. Silent night! Holy night! Brought the world peace tonight, From the heavens′ golden height Shows the grace of His holy might Jesus, as man on this earth! Jesus, as man on this earth! D. Silent night! holy night! Where today all the might Of His fatherly love us graced And then Jesus, as brother embraced. All the peoples on earth! All the peoples on earth!
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, God, and King?
Witness: When I was a seeker I sought both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me, And he showed me the way. He made me a watchman Upon a city wall,
December 24, 2011 08:44 AM PST
FINDING CHRISTMAS IN THE CAROLS
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we are looking at our fourth Christmas Carol. We Three Kings opens up one of the more visually powerful moments in the Christmas Story. Interestingly enough, the Kings probably showed up when Jesus was approaching two years of age. I pray this series has helped you to ponder the great truths, and themes, of the Christmas Season. Since we have already spent time looking at the significance of Gold, Incense, and Myrrh we are going to focus in a different direction with today’s song! 1. Have you ever had any fun or funny travel experiences at Christmas time? Would you share them? What does the distance we are willing to travel say about the importance we place on spending Christmas with our families? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Now let’s look at some Biblical travelers who journey far to visit Jesus. I think a great many people know more about the Christmas story from Christmas cards than from the Bible, and therefore they have many inaccurate impressions... First, you will notice that the record doesn't tell us there were three wise men. I don't know how many there were, but I doubt whether three wise men would have disturbed Herod or have excited Jerusalem. I do believe that three hundred men would have done so. These wise men who came from the East evidently came from different areas. They had been studying the stars, and when this new star appeared, they joined forces and came to Jerusalem. Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee. [Matthew 2:1] 3. We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
The Kings saw a star and travelled to meet Jesus! Think about your “journey to Jesus?”
5. Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb,
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, God, and King?
________________________________________________________________________ Witness: When I was a seeker I sought both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me, And he showed me the way. He made me a watchman Upon a city wall,
December 12, 2011 09:00 AM PST
FINDING CHRISTMAS IN THE CAROLS
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: In 1739 Charles Wesley gave us the original words to one of the most sung songs in the Christian church. The words have evolved and the melody line has been turned from serious to joyful. But for 272 years the amazing theology of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” has been sung. May God teach and challenge us today as we discuss these powerful lyrics. 1. Did your family sing Christmas Carols when you were a child?
B. “Christ the Lord is born to-day!” Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d,
C. Offspring of a Virgin’s womb! D. Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate deity! E. Mild He lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die;
F. Rise, the woman’s conquering seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head. G. Now display thy saving power, Ruined nature now restore;
H. Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface; Stamp Thy image in its place.
I. Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the life, the inner Man:
Is there anybody in your Life Group today who would like to invite Christ to come into their believing heart? Has anyone in your group “lost Christ” but would like to pray and “get Him back?” ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: When I was a seeker I sought both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me, And he showed me the way. He made me a watchman Upon a city wall,
December 05, 2011 08:31 AM PST
FINDING CHRISTMAS IN THE CAROLS
Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: What Child is This? is the most important question anyone will ever ask. The answer to the question will direct your life and determine your eternal destiny. How amazing that a Christmas song written by a depressed Insurance Manager in 1865 is still sung today. The years may pass, but the invitation to enthrone Christ as the Lord of your Heart will never change! 1. Have you ever watched a baby being born? What were you thinking? 2. Today we are going to look at some lyrics from What Child is This?. As you dig into the song let the words challenge your life! A. What child is this who, Laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
What do you think the shepherds were thinking when the angels lit up the sky?
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Think about the Palace of Saddam Hussein, Buckingham Palace, and the White House. Then think of Christ being born in a barn, in a manger. What was God trying to tell us?
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Why would William Dix add a verse about Nails, a Spear, and a Cross into such a beautiful song about a baby in a manger? ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ D. So bring him incense, gold and myrrh; Think about the wise men coming to Christ with their threefold gifts.
________________________________________________________________________ E. Come peasant, king to own him. The king of kings salvation brings;
Think about some of the people who came to Jesus in the Gospels. Share the names and professions of those who come to mind? Is Dix right in declaring that peasants and kings can own Christ? [Own means to know and embrace.] ________________________________________________________________________ F. Raise, raise, the song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby,
Who do you say this child is? Have you bent your knee at the manger and enthroned Christ within your heart as Savior and Lord? Would you like to do this today? ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: When I was a seeker I sought both night and day, I asked the Lord to help me, And he showed me the way. He made me a watchman Upon a city wall,
December 01, 2011 09:26 AM PST
FINDING CHRISTMAS IN THE CAROLS
Life Group Notes: Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: Some of the most excellent theology around can be found in our Christmas Carols. When melody and lyrics hook up and hang around together for hundreds of years something good just might be going on. This Christmas we are going to look at the story behind, and the scriptures inside, some of our best-loved hymns. I pray that as our understanding grows deeper that our worship will reach much higher! Pastor Paul 1. What special part of Christmas excites you? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Check out these verses from Joy to the World. Apply them to your life!
___________________________________________________________________ B. Let every heart prepare Him room…
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_________________________________________________________________ E. He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found…
Jeremiah 15:19 __________________________________________________ Jeremiah 31:18-19 __________________________________________________ Joel 2:25-28 _______________________________________________________ Isaiah 1:18 _______________________________________________________ F. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove
3. As you close your time today… consider the scope of Joy to the World! Adams Sin, the Curse Sin Caused, Christ’s Incarnation,
November 15, 2011 10:02 AM PST
Called to Trust! 11/13/11
Life Group Notes: Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we looked at our call to trust God. It is easy for the events taking place in our world and our own personal challenges to distract us or undermine our faith. My reading and study has shown that times of trial, doubt, fear, and foundering faith are not all that unusual. The great saints of the faith have written for centuries about the journey God will allow us to travel as He works His will within us.
1. Give your own explanation of what it means to trust God. _______________________________________________________________________ 2. Can you think of some specific areas of life where we are called to trust God? What does it look like to trust God in those areas? ____________________________________________________________________ 3. Can you think of an area where it is hard to trust God? __________________________________________________________________ 4. Jeremiah was an O.T. prophet who warned Israel of their pending doom. Throughout his preaching God gave Jeremiah two words that could have saved His people from disaster. Let’s look at those words, and God’s warnings to His people. Apply those words to your life today! Do you see a connection?
B. Jeremiah 11:4 ____________________________________________ 5. Now look at God’s warnings… apply these words to your modern life! A. Jeremiah 11:3 ___________________________________________________ B. Jeremiah 17:5 __________________________________________________ C. Jeremiah 48:7 _________________________________________________ D. Jeremiah 9:4 __________________________________________________ E. Jeremiah 12:6 _________________________________________________ F. Jeremiah 13:25 ___________________________________________ 6. Consider what Madame Guyon wrote about trusting God three centuries ago. When a Christian has reached this wilderness, this desolate place, this dark night of the senses, this time that touches the very experience of Christ when He cried out Why??”… it is only at that time, when the believer walks by naked faith, that he begins to become truly established and well founded in his Lord. When you can go beyond that place and, not seeing your Lord, believe He is there by the eyes of faith alone; when you can walk further and further into Christ when there are no senses, no feelings, not even the slightest registration of the presence of God; when you can sit before Him when everything around you and within you seems to be either falling apart or dead,
Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Boundary #7. The Law of ProActivity!
November 11, 2011 12:59 PM PST
Boundary #7. The Law of ProActivity! 10/23/11
LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we looked at a very interesting stage on the Boundaries journey. When the lights go on, and the truth of our situations explode in our minds, it can lead to a dramatic reaction. While the dramatic reaction is normal, it is only a phase. And we eventually need to move from being a reactive person, to a proactive person. Today’s Life Notes will examine several steps on this journey! 1. Can you think of some movies where the main character goes through a dramatic change because of a new experience with their traditional circumstances? __________________________________________________________________ 2. Can you think of stories or people who live in never changing, “long suffering” situations? __________________________________________________________________ 3. Can you think of a time in your life when you got a “wake up call?” [Not from the operator!] What was it? How did it come? How did you respond to it? ____________________________________________________________________ 4. Has God ever called you to take a “searching and fearless moral inventory?”
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__________________________________________________________________ 7. There may be issues you are dealing with that don’t really have a clear and easy answer! Take some time and pray for one another! ___________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. ________________________________________________________________________ Boundary #6. The Law of Evaluation!
October 17, 2011 08:58 AM PDT
Boundary #6. The Law of Evaluation! 10/16/11
LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we looked at the need to evaluate the effect that our boundaries will have on other people. We examined the challenge of balancing the demands of family expectations, job expectation, God’s expectations, and our own need for time and space. We talked about the impact our boundaries may have on others and the possible need for confrontation with others in regard to our boundaries. We looked at four New Testament stories from the life of Jesus. Today we are going to apply the words of Jesus, and His ability to define boundaries and confront, to our own lives. Enjoy! 1. When it comes to personally confronting someone are you a lion, a lamb, or an ostrich? Why? Give an example if you like. 2. Who do you know that is very strong, confident, and straightforward in their ability to confront a person or a situation? What makes them so effective? 3. How do you think the family of Jesus responded to the boundaries He set in the following verses? A. Luke 2:41-49 ________________________________________________________________________ B. Mark 3:20-21 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. How do you respond when your family or friends makes a decision that you do not like? Do you nag them, support them, accept them, confront them, ignore them, emotionally blackmail them, etc.? ________________________________________________________________________ 5. How do your family and friends respond when you draw a boundary with them? Do they accept and respect your boundaries? ________________________________________________________________________ 6. Now let us look at how Jesus confronted some people. How do you think the people he spoke with handled His words? Consider how directly Jesus spoke to these people. A. Matthew 16:22-23 ________________________________________________________________________ B. Luke 7:44-47 ________________________________________________________________________ 7. Could you speak this directly to a person? 8. How would you handle somebody speaking this directly to you? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Boundary #4. What Motivates YOU? part 2
October 09, 2011 04:06 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we looked at some negative motives that can lead us down dark and dangerous paths. As followers of Christ, we should serve and give generously out of a full and overflowing heart. Giving and serving from wrong motives can rob us of our joy and produce a bitter spirit. The excited service we once offered to Christ can become a never-ending drudge! May God deliver us from unhealthy motives! 1. Think about believers you have personally known. Who consistently served the Lord with a special joy and freshness? What made them special? ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Think about a crabby Christian you have known who served in the church. Don’t name any names, tell any stories, or hint at who they were!!! In a very generic way share what signs you saw that suggested a lack of joy in their service? ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Now we are going to look at eight motives that can spoil our joy. As you look at the list allow the Holy Spirit search your heart. Do any of these motives ever cause you to miss the mark of joyful service to God and others? Take the time to do some reflection and discern where this trait may have come from in your life. A. Fear of loss of love or abondenment. ________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________ 4. Close your time with a reading of 2 Corinthians 9:5-8 (NLT). Point out the key words that indicate a healthy way in which to give and serve! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Boundary #4. What Motivates YOU?
October 09, 2011 04:03 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we looked at some negative motives that can lead us down dark and dangerous paths. As followers of Christ, we should serve and give generously out of a full and overflowing heart. Giving and serving from wrong motives can rob us of our joy and produce a bitter spirit. The excited service we once offered to Christ can become a never-ending drudge! May God deliver us from unhealthy motives! 1. Think about believers you have personally known. Who consistently served the Lord with a special joy and freshness? What made them special? ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Think about a crabby Christian you have known who served in the church. Don’t name any names, tell any stories, or hint at who they were!!! In a very generic way share what signs you saw that suggested a lack of joy in their service? ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Now we are going to look at eight motives that can spoil our joy. As you look at the list allow the Holy Spirit search your heart. Do any of these motives ever cause you to miss the mark of joyful service to God and others? Take the time to do some reflection and discern where this trait may have come from in your life. A. Fear of loss of love or abondenment. ________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________ 4. Close your time with a reading of 2 Corinthians 9:5-8 (NLT). Point out the key words that indicate a healthy way in which to give and serve! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. #3 Power and Respect
October 02, 2011 04:29 PM PDT
BOUNDARIES #3. POWER AND RESPECT 10/2/11
LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: On Sunday we looked at the power we have to act in our own lives, and the respect we need to give others when they show us their boundaries. Today we are going to work on applying these principles to actual situations in our lives. 1. Think about your extended family of origin. As a group, did your family have a healthy sense of power over their own lives? Or was there a sense of powerlessness? Did your extended family tend to respect the differences and boundaries of others…
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2. The Boundaries book gives six specific thoughts on the Law of Power. These six steps line up very clearly with principles from the scriptures. Look at each of the six principles given. How do you go about putting each of these six into practice? Are there principles that you have difficulty putting into practice? A. Confession: You have the power to agree with the truth about your problem!
B. Surrender: You have the power to submit your inability to God!
C. Teachable: You have the power to ask God and Others to help you Psalm 139:23-24 clarify your boundaries! D. Repent: You have the power to turn from the evil that is within you!
E. Humble yourself. Ask God and others to help you with your developmental Luke 14:11 injuries and leftover childhood needs! F. Restitution: Seek out those you have injured and make amends!
3. Remember: You will want people to respect the Boundary steps that you are taking. At the same time, you need to respect the Boundaries that people might begin to draw with you! When we accept others’ freedom, we don’t get angry, feel guilty, or withdraw our love when they set boundaries with us. When we accept others’ freedom, we feel better about our own. Boundaries (p. 90)
Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Boundary #2. Sowing, Reaping, and Responsibility
September 25, 2011 08:47 PM PDT
Boundary #2. Sowing, Reaping, and Responsibility 9/25/11
LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: Today, we are going to look at Boundaries in Friendships. The Boundaries book defines a friendship as “a nonromantic relationship that is attachment based rather than function based. A friend is somebody we want to be around simply for their own sake.” [P. 137] Our primary connection isn’t work, ministry, or a hobby. This person is simply our friend because we like being with each other. 1. Think back to your growing up years. Who was your best friend? Why? 2. Boundaries speaks about four types of friends. Begin by describing these people. A. Complaint: The person who always says yes and goes with the others plan. B. Aggressive Controller: This person takes what they want from the relationship. They always make the plan, borrow the car, or invade the others time and space. C. Manipulative Controller: When this person fails to plan, prepare, or purchase then their drama becomes the problem of the friends they whine and beg to. They are experts at making their problem your problem. D. Nonresponsive: This persons coasts in the relationship. They respond when it meets their need and suits their purpose. 3. Think about you and your friendships. Which of these types’ best describes you? Why? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
A. A compliant with an aggressive controller? B. A manipulative controller with a nonresponsive? C. An aggressive controller with a manipulative controller? D. What other interesting combinations can you think of? 5. Let’s look at some descriptions and actions in one of the Bibles
A. 1 Samuel 18:1 B. 1 Samuel 19:1-7 C. 1 Samuel 20:1-9 D. 1 Samuel 20:16-17 E. David wrote a song to memorialize Saul and Jonathan after their death. Look at the power and intensity of David’s words. 2 Samuel 1:25-26 6. Do you have any friendships that need to be rebalanced, redefined, or adjusted to make them more fair and healthy? Do you have any toxic friendships that you need to get out of? Do you have any great friendships that you are thankful for? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. #1 What's so Big about Boundaries?
September 18, 2011 01:44 PM PDT
#1. What’s so Big about Boundaries John 17:4 9/18/11 WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we are going to apply the Laws of Boundaries to our Families. Let me encourage all of you to be very gently and tender with one another during this time. It is very possible that these questions and discussions about Boundaries will probe deeply into experiences of the past and the present. Sometimes the scab needs to come off, and the wound needs to be cleaned, before a true healing can begin. Be sensitive to the work of the Spirit if He begins such a work in your midst! Your family of origin:
2. How do you, or did you, feel when you go to visit your parents home? 3. Did your family of origin have healthy boundaries? When people tried to carve out their own healthy space was their loving acceptance, anger, guilt, shame, or another emotion shown? Who showed it?
5. Do you have healthy boundaries with your adult children? What do healthy boundaries look like? Triangulation---is the failure to resolve a conflict between two persons and the pulling in of a third to take sides. This is a boundary problem because the third person has no business in the conflict, but is used for comfort and validation by the ones who are afraid to confront each other. This is how conflicts persist, people don’t change, and enemies are made unnecessarily. Boundaries: When To Say Yes, How to Say No (p. 128) 6. Think about the definition of triangulation.
A. If you have a problem with someone is it hard or easy for you to confront them? B. If somebody has a problem or “teaching moment” they wish to bring to you how well do you receive it? C. Think about your family, friends, co/workers, fellow/students, etc. Can you think of any triangulation relationships that you are involved in? What are they? Are you the person with the issue, needing to go to another? Are you the problem, and somebody needs to come and talk to you? Are you the “third wheel” that somebody has sucked into the drama? 7. Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17. Based upon His teaching, how does Jesus feel about triangulation? 8. What damage can we do by triangulating in our relationships? 9. What would Jesus have you do about the triangulated situation you are in? Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. The Cost of Discipleship
September 11, 2011 07:43 PM PDT
Northpoint Christian Fellowship
Notes from the Sermon… ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Life Group Discussion Notes… Welcome… Take few moments to share about a person you know personally who exhibits strong Christian faith and how you wish your faith was similar. Worship… Now take some time and connect with God. Sing, pray, meditate, listen to a song. Enjoy this time of putting off the weeks challenges, and relaxing in the presence of God. Word… This past Sunday we discussed the difference between being a lukewarm follower of Jesus and being His true disciple. We discussed the “cost” of discipleship and it’s implications on our salvation. This week in your Life Group, we’ll spend time discussing the “conditions” and “tests” of true disciples as soundly laid out in Spiritual Discipleship by J. Oswald Sanders. In Luke 14, Jesus provides 3 “conditions” for true discipleship with no exceptions or exemptions… 1. An Unrivaled Love – Read Luke 14:26…
2. An Unceasing Cross-Bearing – Read Luke 14:27 & Matthew 10:38…
3. An Unreserved Surrender – Read Luke 14:33…
In Luke 9, Jesus provides 3 “tests” that reveal whether a person is a true disciple or merely a follower… 1. The Impulsive Volunteer – Read Luke 9:57…
2. The Reluctant Conscript – Read Luke 9:59…
3. The Half-Hearted Volunteer – Read Luke 9:61…
Concluding Thought… Where do you line up within the “conditions” and “tests” of true discipleship? Pray and ask God to reveal areas in your life that need to be released so that you can run to Him unhindered for His purpose and glory. Witness… Take some time to discuss and pray over those in your OIKOS that need to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to hinder Satan from blinding them to His truth. Make a plan to deliberately see them this week. Competence and Character
September 05, 2011 08:17 AM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
Message Notes: Competence is what we ______Know How______________ to do;
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________ LIFE GROUP NOTES: [Prior reflection makes for a much better Life Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we took a very quick look at Competence and Character. We took a look at the life of David. He was a warrior, poet, and king who led with amazing Confidence and Competence. However, David had a Character flaw which opened the door to God’s wrath. Today in our Life Group we are going to look at five essential Character traits that will greatly affect our standing with God and people. 1. Have you experienced anything lately that revealed a really positive character trait in someone? Who was it and what good thing did they do? 2. There are many positive Character traits that we could mention. Among them are the fruits of the Spirit which we studied in Galatians. We are going to look at five which, if practiced diligently, will help keep us from harm and advance us in life. Here we go! 3. We will look at several scriptures for each of the five words given.
Proverbs 10:18 _____________________________________________ Proverbs 12:19 _____________________________________________ Psalm 120:1-4 _____________________________________________ B. Fidelity
C. Sobriety Proverbs 20:1 Proverbs 31:4-7 D. Industry Proverbs 6:6-11 Ephesians 4:28 E. Thrift Proverbs 22:7 Proverbs 37:21
Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Hows Your Dirt
August 15, 2011 09:03 AM PDT
August 14,2011 Hows Your Dirt "Follow the Leader"
August 09, 2011 09:50 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we finished the book of Galatians. In his closing thoughts, in his own hand, Paul made a profound declaration about the cross of Christ. Today we are going to follow up on that declaration. We are living in a world where many say that all roads lead to heaven. Nothing is farther from the truth. Let’s examine an ancient story and see how it connects to the teaching, mission, and cross of Jesus. 1. Why do you think John 3:16 is one of the most memorized and quoted Bible verses? Can somebody quote it? When did you learn it? 2. Now that we have considered John 3:16, let’s read some additional verses to give it a broader context. Read John 3:13-21. A. Does reading John 3:16 in context change the feel of the verse? How? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Now let’s look way back in the history of Israel to find the roots of John 3:16. Read Numbers 21:4-9. A. What were the people doing in verses 4 and 5? ________________________________________________________________________ B. What did God do in response? [Verse 6] _______________________________________________________________________ C. What did the people do in verse 7? _______________________________________________________________________ D. What did God do in verses 8 and 9? _______________________________________________________________________ E. What did the people need to do to be saved? Does it sound overly simple?
_______________________________________________________________________ 4. What is the connection between Numbers 21 and John 3? _______________________________________________________________________ 5. What does this discussion say to you about the importance and intentionality of the cross in the life of Christ and the plan of God? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 6. How does today’s discussion impact the idea that all roads lead to heaven? ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at A New Way of Life
July 31, 2011 07:34 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
Message Notes: Lend a helping _____________________. Have the right ____________________________. Check out _____________ ________________ __________________. _________________ with those who feed you. We ______________ what we ___________________. _________________ __________________ ________ on what is right! Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: Paul the apostle wrote Galatians and gave us 4 ½ chapters of theology. Then he gave us a ½ a chapter of spiritual application. Now, in the last chapter of Galatians Paul will get very gently, very personal, and very applicable. Today we are going to explore a very powerful, important, and difficult topic! Today we are going to look at how we walk together in Christian community. 1. Can you name some movies, or comic books, where the hero is a “Lone Ranger?” 2. Can you think of movies, or comic books, where the hero’s work as a team? 3. What are the differences between working on a team and being a Lone Ranger? 4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 & 27. What is the Apostle teaching us? ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Are Christians called to be Lone Rangers or Team members? ________________________________________________________________________ 6. Read the following verses. What challenge do we see? How can you apply it? A. 1 Corinthians 1:10. How can we “cultivate a life in common?” B. Romans 15:5. What does it take to live in harmony? C. Colossians 3:13. What does Paul call us to do if we are wronged? 7. Read 2 Timothy 4:1-4. Read this from the perspective of a Pastor, Shepherd, Intern, or Coach. What are the leaders and teachers of a church called to do? Now consider the passage from the perspective of a church member. How do we respond when someone challenges us with the word? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 8. Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-7. This is a very serious and extreme situation. However, it shows us how seriously the Apostle viewed sin in the church. How would you respond if you were a member of a church that received this letter from Paul? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ A Verse for Reflection: Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
July 17, 2011 09:43 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
Thoughts from the Message: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship:Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word 1. Think about leaders you have worked for. Which ones led with grace, love, and common sense? Which ones led with rules, laws, and rigidity? What was the difference in the experiences? 2. Read the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:34-40. A. What point was Jesus making? B. How do you think the law keeping leaders received the Lord’s words? C. How do you respond to the call to love? 3. Lets look at some of the specific demands of love. As we read these verses, apply them to your home life, your work life, your school life, and your church life. A. How does Ephesians 4:15 teach us to speak truth? How well do you do this? B. Read Matthew 5:43-48. This is a very challenging teaching of Jesus. a. What does Jesus teach us here? b. Does this square with our American way of life and your upbringing? c. What practical issues does this teaching raise for you? d. Are there “common sense clauses” that you might apply to this? e. Are there any current issues in your life that this teaching speaks too? ALLOW TIME FOR PRAYER!
Then take the time to read the words of Peter below… and pray for your blessing list! Witness:Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
July 10, 2011 05:57 PM PDT
July 10,2011 Mark A Lambert Galatians 4:21-31 Freedom
July 04, 2011 08:20 AM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
Thoughts from the Message: Don’t go ______Backwards________________________________. Live free from the _________Past___________________________. Listen to the _________Truth____________________________. Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we celebrated the 4th of July and Galatians 4. Both speak about freedom and truth. It has been said that freedom is free, but never cheap. It cost Christians the blood of Christ, and it cost America the brave blood of her patriots. The message concluded with a challenge. IT IS TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO DRAW THEIR LINES IN THE SAND AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL OF LIFE. FAMILY, CHURCH, SCHOOL, SPORTS, WORK, MILITARY, POLITICS, AND MEDIA. WE MUST SAY WITH OUR LIVES THAT CHRIST IS KING AND THE DEVIL MAY NOT PASS OUR POST! 1. If we sang the words of the 4th stanza of our National Anthem, approved by Congress and the President, at school sporting events, what would people say? Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
2. Look at the three thoughts from the message. Fill them in for the folks that don’t have them. Let’s do some thinking and sharing about these things. A. What tempts you to go backwards in your life? What would going backwards look like? B. Have you fully accepted the forgiveness of Jesus Christ? Do you ever beat yourself up over things you can’t do anything about? C. Consider John 8:31-32. What does Jesus say is the key to freedom? Have you ever heard people misuse or misquote this passage? How? D. Do you remember the famous courtroom scene where Tom Cruise shouted at Jack Nicholson, “I want the truth!” The famous reply was, “You can’t handle the truth.” What about you? Do you want your spouse, boss, teacher, coach, Shepherd, Pastor, and the Lord Jesus to speak truth into your life? How do you handle the truth? E. Read Hebrews 5:11-14. Think about the Apostle Paul talking to the Galatians about truth and freedom. Think about Galatians 4:16 (NLT) 16 Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? And Galatians 4:19 (NLT) 19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. Do you think the writer to the Hebrews was frustrated with the Christians? What does this passage say to you?
________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Children of God
June 27, 2011 09:19 PM PDT
June 26, 2011 Pastor Paul Reinhard
June 26, 2011 07:59 AM PDT
Pastor Chris Reinhard Sunday June 12th, 2011
Sermon Notes Questions to the Galatians Faith like Abraham Galatians 3:28 Genesis 15:1-7 Romans 10:17 Christ Took our Curse Deuteronomy 27:26 Romans 10:17 Welcome Who is one person in your life that you have always been able to count on? Worship Take some time as a group to focus on God. Whether that is through a song, poem, or scripture reading allow your focus to turn away from the craziness of life and toward God.
Word 1. How has your Faith changed through the different stages of your life? (Childhood, Teen Years, Adulthood, Parenthood, new Christian, established Christian, etc...)
2. Read Matthew 18:2-4. What lesson is Jesus trying to pass on?
3. As we have seen over the last few weeks the Gospel Message and salvation is simple (ABC), why do we tend to complicate it? 4. If faith is trusting that God is who he says he is, has done what he says he has done, and will do what he says he will do; isn't it important for us to know what he says? Take some time in your group to go through the following passages in regards to God's Promises.
How do these verses challenge or encourage you, what questions do have about them?
a. John 3:17 b. Romans 10:9-10 c. Romans 10:13 d. Ephesians 2:8-9 e. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 f. Hebrews 6:18
5. Where are you at in your faith journey currently and how can your life group be praying for you?
Witness Take some time to pray through your blessing list, share the opportunities you have had to bless others around you. "Live Simply, Work Diligently, Give Generously!" Where Religion Finally Dies!
June 05, 2011 02:31 PM PDT
Where Religion Finally Dies! Pastor Chris Reinhard Sunday June 5th, 2011
1.Have you ever pretended to be someone or something you are not, when, why, what happened? 2.Read Galatians 2:11-14, what was Peter's Mistake? 3.Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, how is this different that what Peter did? 4.On Sunday we sang the song Fields of Grace, in that song it says "There's a place where Religion Finally dies." What is that referring to, and what does it mean that religion finally dies? 5.You may have heard the Cliché, it's not a religion, and it is a relationship. What does that mean?
May 29, 2011 04:52 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD IRON SHARPENS IRON GALATIONS 2:1-11 5/29/2011
3.As you think about the stories that you shared... how would meeting privately and seeking a spirit of agreement have helped the process?
4.What do you think it means to guard the gospel from invaders in our time? How can we do this? THERE IS A DELICATE BALANCE HERE BETWEEN HARSH, RIGID, JUDGMENTAL FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIANITY THAT ARROGANTLY DECLARES ITSELF RIGHT, AND THE OTHER WRONG... VERSES... MANY IN THE CHURCH WHO HAVE THROWN OUT THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF ABSOLUTE REVEALED TRUTH.
THERE IS A GREAT TEACHING MOMENT IN THIS PROVERB. SOMETIMES CHRISTIANS BUTT HEADS AND SPARKS FLY. SOMETIMES FAMILIES FIGHT. BUT IF WE ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO HEAR THE TRUTH IN A CRITICISM, THEN WE CAN GROW AND PROSPER FROM WHAT WE HEAR. THE SADDEST THING I WHEN CHRISTIANS GET THEIR FEELINGS HURT AND LEAVE GROUPS. WE MISS THE CHANCE TO LEARN AND GROW. AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL TO "SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE." AS A PREACHER ONCE SAID... THERE IS MUCH SPEAKING, LITTLE TRUTH... AND NO LOVE! MAY IT NOT BE SO!!! Witness:Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
May 22, 2011 10:27 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD SAVED TO SERVE GALATIONS 1:11-24 5/22/2011 Welcome:Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship:Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word:Sunday we looked at the call of St. Paul. We focused in particular on the concept of the call. What does it mean to be called? How does God call? Who does God call? What are we called to? These are all great questions! Today we are going to explore the call on our own lives! What is God say to YOU? 1. When you hear the term, “The call of God” what do you think of? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2. 1 Peter 4:10-11 is one of my most favorite passages! Spend some time reading this aloud from two or three different translations. A. Who gives the spiritual gifts? ________________________________________
A traveler is far away from home
Jesus paid much to high a price for us to pick and choose who should come
Witness:Keep the words of Peter in your mind as you continue to pray for those on your blessing list. 1 Peter 3:15 (MSG) 15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. The Good News
May 22, 2011 05:01 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD THE GOOD NEWS 5/15/2011 Talking Points: Jesus ______________________ for our _____________________.
Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move
Word: Today we are going to reflect upon the heart of the gospel message. We are going to look at the
1. What do different religions teach about the way to get to heaven?
A. What do you think Paul meant when he said these things were of “first importance?” 4. Now let’s look at the three key points one by one. A. Why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to die for our sins? Hebrews 9:18-28
B. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be buried? Matthew 12:38-41 C. Why was it essential for Christ to rise again? Isaiah 53:10-11
1. Christ died for our sins. Without the truth of this message, Christ’s death was worthless, and those who
1. He was buried. The fact of Christ’s death is revealed in the fact of his burial. Many have tried to
1. He was raised. Christ came back to life from being a dead person in a grave on the third day as noted
5. Close with Romans 10:9-15. What invitation is here for an unbeliever?
Witness: Take time to pray for the needs in your Life Group and for those on your Blessing List. Ask God
May 02, 2011 09:38 AM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD LIFE IN THE BODY 5/1/2011 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 TALKING POINTS: The Body has many ________parts_____________________. 12/14 We _____need______________ each part. 15/17 I can’t _______cut______ ___________you_______ _________off__________. 18/21 Care for the _____weaker_____________________ _______parts______________. 22.24 __________together_____________, you are Christ’s Body. 25/27 Make a commitment to ____Christ___________ and ____one_____ _______another_____. Eph 4:1-6 ______________forgive__________ one another. Colossians 3:12-15 Speak ___________honestly________________ to one another. Ephesians 4:15-16 Keep your ________biscuits_____________ in the ____oven_____________ until they are _______________golden__________ ________brown_________________! Romans 8:29 _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Life Group Notes: Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 prior to meeting. Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another!
1. Who lives in your house? What is your relationship to them? 2. Read Ephesians 4:1-4. What key commands does Paul give the church? Do any of these commands challenge you? Which ones? 3. Apply Colossians 3:12-15 to your family, your Life Group, your OIKOS, your business, school, and church. Are there any situations that this principle speaks to right now? What are they? What do you need to do? 4. In Ephesians 4:15-16 Paul tells us what he is going to do, and why he is going to do it. What is Paul talking about? Do we do this with others? How do we handle it when people do it with us? 5. Read Romans 8:29 from several translations. What does it reveal as God’s goal for your life? Are you a willing participant in this plan? Is there anything holding you back? Witness: Take time to pray for the needs in your Life Group and for those on your Blessing List. Ask God to show you how to love, serve, and bless the people around you. Remember that Jesus said they would know we are disciples by our love! John 13:35 EASTER SUNDAY FAMILY CELEBRATION
April 24, 2011 09:01 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD EASTER SUNDAY FAMILY CELEBRATION
TALKING POINTS: God ____________________ you
_____________________________________________________________________ Life Group Notes: Read Matthew 28 prior to Life Group Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we had a special service of Celebration, baptism, and food with our brothers and sisters. We looked at five dimensions of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This week we are going to apply these things to our lives, and ministries. Begin you time together today by sharing about your Easter Sunday Celebration.
1. Examine John 13:34-35. Think about the ways that God has loved us. What are some practical ways that we can love one another? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ 3. Read John 15:12-14. What challenge does Jesus have for us? How can we do this? Are we willing to do this? ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Read James 5:16. Jesus prays for us. What can we do for one another? Think about some of the terrible headlines from just the past weeks. People have killed themselves, others, and even their own children. How different might these terrible things have been if these people had a trusted friend, with whom they could share their deepest fears, dreams, and sins? And what if that trusted friend had loved, prayed, and encouraged them with all of their heart, mind, and soul? ________________________________________________________________________ 5. What did the angel tell the women to do in Matthew 28:7? What did Jesus tell the disciples in Acts 1:8? As we see the crazy things taking place in the world, it should be a constant reminder to tell people the story of Jesus! ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Take time to pray for the needs in your Life Group and for those on your Blessing List. Ask God to show you how to love, serve, and bless the people around you. Remember that Jesus said they would know we are disciples by our love! John 13:35
April 17, 2011 09:08 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD PALM SUNDAY’S PARTS 4/17/2011 Jot Your Thoughts: The __________________________. Matthew 21:1 The ____________________________. Luke 19:41-45 The ______________________________. Zechariah 9:9 The ________________________________. Matthew 21:8-11 The __________________________________. Matthew 21:23-27 & Luke 19:39-40 The ____________________________________. Matthew 21:14-16 The ______________________________________. Matthew 21:12-14 Life Group Notes: [Read Psalm 118 prior to Life Group] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: Today we are going to look at the Psalm behind Matthew 21:9.
1. What declaration is repeated several times in verses 1-4? Is this a message that people need today? Why? How does it speak to you? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Now read 5-13. What did these verses say to Israel? To You?
________________________________________________________________________ 3. What attitude do you sense in verses 14-16? What key words and phrases does the Psalmist use to describe the Lord? How do you think these verses encouraged Jesus on His journey to the Cross? Allow these words to encourage you! ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Vereses 17-21 were spiritually true for Jesus. How can these verses encourage you, in any situation? ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Now read 22-29. As you read, think about the Father, the Son, and yourself. What do the different verses say to the different personages? Again, how could the Lord have been encouraged by these verses? How are you encouraged? ________________________________________________________________________ 6. Now read 1 Peter 2:4-10. As you read these verses be thinking about what Jesus did for us. Think about Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Understand that the work of Jesus was prophesied 1,000 years before He was born. And the song He sang with His disciples the night before His death was written for Him! One thousand years before He was born! ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Take time to pray for the needs in your Life Group and for those on your Blessing List. Ask God to show you how to love, serve, and bless the people around you. Remember that Jesus said they would know we are disciples by our love! John 13:35 The Final Word
April 10, 2011 04:50 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD The Final Word 4/10/2011 Malachi 1-4 TALKING POINTS: I have always ___________________ ____________________. Mal 1:1-2 Bring a worthy ________________________. Mal 1:6-10 Beware the dishonest __________________ or ___________________. Mal 2:1-9 Marry a ___________________________. Mal 2:10-12 Be faithful to your ____________________. Mal 2:13-16 Look for God’s _____________________________. Mal 3:1-5 Don’t ________________________ God. Mal 3:6-15 Be the One who _______________________________________. Mal 3:16-18 Embrace the ___________________________________________. Mal 4:1-6 Life Group Notes: [Read the book of Malachi before your Life Group meets.] Welcome: 15 Min. Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: 15 Min. Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts.Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another!
1. Read over the Talking Points. Keep in mind that Malachi taught 400 years before the birth of Jesus Chris and the writing of the New Testament.Which of these principles carry over into the New Testament? 2. Which of these principles do you see in our American culture?
3. Which of these principles causes the most distress for Christians and churchgoers? Why do you think it is so? What does it look like? 4. Is there one of these principles that challenges you? Which one? Why? 5. Is there one of these principles that really encourages you? Which one and why? 6. What is God looking for in Malachi 2:15? How does this verse speak to our modern American culture? How can our Life Groups help with this? Witness: 20 Min.Take time to pray for the needs in your Life Group and for those on your Blessing List. Ask God to show you how to love, serve, and bless the people around you. Remember that Jesus said they would know we are disciples by our love! John 13:35 The Call of God
April 04, 2011 08:13 AM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD The Call of God 4/3/2011 Jeremiah 1 and Ezekiel 2 TALKING POINTS: Stop making ________________Excuses___________. Jeremiah 1:6 ______Go___ where I tell you to _________Go______. Jeremiah 1:7 ____Say___________ what I tell you to ___Say_____________. Jeremiah 1:7 Don’t be _____Afraid______________. Jeremiah 1:8 Speak my ______Words______________. Jeremiah 1:9 I am _____With ___________ _____You_______________. Jeremiah 1:17-19 Speak the truth if they ________Listen_________ _OR____ _________Not____. Ezekiel 2:5-7 _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Life Group Notes: [Try reading and reflecting on the scriptures prior to Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: Jeremiah and Ezekiel lived in tough times, surrounded by tough people. God said that Israel was rebellious, stubborn, out of control, and headed for trouble if they did not change their ways. God called Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, to preach and prophecy to his people. Is it possible that modern day San Bernardino is a bit like ancient Israel? Is it possible that your friends, and neighbors, might be something like the people these prophets lived amongst and ministered to? Is it possible that you are a bit fearful of the work God may have for you to do? Today we are going to reflect upon the call of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Consider how your feelings might be like theirs! 1.Fill in the blanks on the talking points! 2.If God said Jeremiah 1:6 to you, what would He be talking about? 3.How would you feel if God spoke Jeremiah 1:7a to you? How could this impact your family, friends, work, home, etc.? 4.Are you prepared to do Jeremiah 1:7b. Are you willing? What do you need to be ready and willing? 5.When you think of serving God… is there any element of Jeremiah 1:8 in your heart? What is it? What causes it? What could heal it? 6.Read Jeremiah 1:9 and 2 Timothy 2:18 from several different translations. How does the Apostle Paul’s challenge to Timothy challenge you? 7.How does Jeremiah 1:17-19 and the last verse of the gospel of Matthew speak to you and your ministry? How can these verses encourage you? 8.Apply Ezekiel 2:5-7 to your oikos! What is your job? What is not your job? What are you responsible to do? What are you not responsible to do? 9.Was there one of these points that encouraged you in a special way?
March 28, 2011 09:22 AM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD A Kingdom Hanging in the Balance 3/27/2011 1 Kings 11:26-40 and 12:1-20 TALKING POINTS: Our ________decisions___________________ and ____________actions______________
The people were _______willing_____________ to follow! Not __________listening__________________ ruptures relationships! Oppression breeds _rebellion__________________________! ___________servant____________ leaders ______save________________ Kingdoms! _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Life Group Notes: [Try reading and reflecting on the scriptures prior to Group!] Welcome: Have a snack, say hello, check in, and welcome your visitors. Worship: Connect with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Word: This week we focused upon a key “change point” in the history of the nation of Israel. Israel was birthed under the Patriarchs, ruled by the Judges, and united under the Kings. The Davidic Kingdom was the high point for Israel as an earthly nation. David’s military conquests set the stage for a long and prosperous reign by his bloodline. Sadly, Solomon’s sin against God destroyed that possibility.
1. Fill in the blanks for the Talking Points. 2. There is a wonderful built in harmony to life. God has created all institutions to have leaders, and followers. When submission/obedience and servant leadership work together there can be tremendous peace and effectiveness in marriage, family, business, governments, and churches. See how these principles work in real life. A. How do the Talking Points apply to your marriage? Ephesians 5:21-25. B. How do the Talking Points apply to your parent-child relationships? Eph 6:1-4 C. How do the Talking Points apply to the current events in Libya, Syria, and Egypt?
D. How do the Talking Points apply to your work? Colossians 3:22-24 E. How do the Talking Points apply to our church? Mark 10:42-45 3. Did applying the Talking Points to everyday life reveal any patterns in your thoughts, attitudes, and behavior? What are they? Is there something in the pattern that you need to work on? What do you need to do? Witness: Take time to pray for the needs in your Life Group and for those on your Blessing List. Ask God to show you how to love, serve, and bless the people around you. Remember that Jesus said they would know we are disciples by our love! John 13:35 We Need A King
March 20, 2011 05:42 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD MARCH 20TH, 2011 SPECIAL ACTIVITY THIS WEEK Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Activity: Today we are going to “Shift Gears!” We have been sensing for a season that it was time to increase our focus on the Witness portion of our Life Group time together. The events of this past weekend at Forest Home have confirmed our decision to begin using The Blessing List in our Life Groups! It is time!
Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Dear NorthPoint Family: What an amazing time we had last weekend with almost all of our Children, Spouses, Interns, Shepherds, Board, and Staff! This was a special and wonderful time of playing, praying, dreaming, and waiting on God.
Then, on Sunday morning in the middle of worship, the second God moment happened. Doug Jr. shared, "When you begin a church plant you commission your pastors." In the midst of the worship service the congregation took over and laid hands on Karen, Shannon, Chris, and I for a time of prayer and commissioning. The spirit of the moment was very strong, and clear. We are a new work, we are a church plant. This is truly a new beginning. Interestingly, several others in the congregation had a sense that this needed to be done before Doug spoke up! The spirit was speaking to the congregation.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer declared:
We can't build a church, but God can! We must be willing to die to our agenda, that Christ's life might flow through! God has taken us down paths that I never would have imagined or planned!
See you Sunday, Pastor Paul The Blessing List: Now your Shepherd is going to lead you through the process of putting together your Blessing List. We are asking that each of our Life Groups take the time to begin this important part of our ministry. As I said in the beginning, we are shifting gears. As you begin to pray through the names on your Blessing List each and every day, expect God to begin moving and networking people, in ways that you have never seen before! Let’s say our prayers and see what God can do!
March 19, 2011 04:00 PM PDT
Northpoint Christian Fellowship Shepherds Retreat 2011 Forest Home Session 4 - Moving Outward
March 19, 2011 01:23 PM PDT
Northpoint Christian Fellowship Shepherds Retreat 2011 Forest Home Session 3 - Cultivating a Mentoring Relationship
March 19, 2011 12:53 PM PDT
Northpoint Christian Fellowship Shepherds Retreat 2011 Forest Home Session 2 - Choosing Your Mentor
March 19, 2011 12:20 PM PDT
Northpoint Christian Fellowship Shepherds Retreat 2011 Session 1 - Our Vision
March 19, 2011 11:54 AM PDT
Northpoint Christian Fellowship Shepherds Retreat 2001 Shepherds Retreat 2011 In Spite of Your Fears
March 13, 2011 04:00 PM PDT
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM "IN SPITE OF YOUR FEARS" PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD JUDGES 6-8 March 13, 2011 Welcome: What is your favorite summer fruit? Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God's leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another!
Word: This Sunday we met for worship at beautiful Forest Horne. The theme was Gideon. We looked at God calling on this man. We met him hiding in a wine press and watched him rise to the highest level of leadership in his nation. Today we are going to look at a pattern that repeats itself over and over again in the scriptures. Sadly, it is often a pattern that repeats itself in our lives! As we spend time in the Word today, be asking yourself, "Do I see the Judges pattern in my life?" And, "What must I do about it?" 1.Do you think there are patterns to our lives, choices, and behaviors?
2.Let's investigate the pattern of Judges! For each of these verses create a short description to define that part of the pattern. A. Judges 5:31b [a means the first part of a verse, b means the second]
Read out loud the names of the parts of the pattern that you have identified. Take some time and reflect on this pattern. Then ask a few powerful questions. "Are there times when my life plugs into this pattern?" "What do those times look like?" "What do I need to do to break this cycle?" Thoughts:
March 06, 2011 08:08 PM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD The Promised Land March 6, 2011 Welcome: Are you ready for Spring? Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Notes from the message: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Word: The past few weeks we looked at Israel’s bondage in Egypt, wandering in the wilderness, and entrance into the Promised Land. Last week, and this week, we wrestled with the complicated issues of sin, consequences, punishment, forgiveness, and the call to Holiness. Today we are going to see how the Old Testament and the New Testament truly connect. The stories of the Old Testament can directly apply to the theology of the New Testament. Move quickly this week! Much to see and do! 1.Read Hebrews 3:1-11. A.How does the author compare Jesus and Moses? B.How do they compare us [New Testament Christians] with the children of Israel? 2.Now read Hebrews 3:12-19. A.Who is the author writing to in verse 12A? B.What is the warning given in 12B? C.According to verse 13, what is our responsibility to one another? Is this a common practice in the modern day church? Should it be? How do you respond to people speaking words of correction into your life? Do you speak to others? How? D.Does verse 14 give us conditions for sharing in the things of Christ?
E.What warning does verse 15 give to us? F.What two things kept God’s people out of the Promised Land inverses 16-19? 3.Read Hebrews 4:1-3. A.How do these verses connect us with the children of Israel in Genesis and Joshua? B.What is the warning for us today? C.How does this speak to your current relationship with Christ? THE GOOD NEWS HEBREWS 4:14-16 (NLT)
Witness:Watch your OIKOS carefully. Listen for the “leading question.” Look for the “open door.” Then use the opportunity to talk about spiritual things, or to invite somebody to Life Group or Celebration. Keep loving, praying, and serving! The Beginning of Israel
February 13, 2011 02:38 PM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD The Beginning of Israel 2/13/2011 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome: Have you had a chance to follow the news coming out of Egypt? Notes from the message: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Word: Sadly, stress and family drama are nothing new to this world. Four thousand years ago, Abraham had an issue with his wife Sarah, and the mother of his first child, Hagar. Amazingly, the consequence of that drama has been front-page news for the past two weeks. I doubt if Abraham had any idea that his family was about to begin a ripple that would eventually influence every nation on the earth.
1.Do you come from a consistently peaceful family?
2.What was God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:7? 3.How did God confirm His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:1-4? 4.Read Genesis 16:1-3. Have you ever gotten tired of waiting for God to do something… so you decided to help Him out? 5.Read Genesis 16:4-6 very carefully. How many bad actions and choices can you find in this scripture? Now imagine this is a wife, an ex-wife, or a girlfriend/mistress, adopted child, stepchild, etc. How often is this exact same type of drama played out today? 6.Read Genesis 16:7-15. Can you see the wrath in verse 12? How many young men in America are just like Ishmael? 7.Read Genesis 21:1-20. How many families in America have experienced this kind of division? How many children have been torn from their family because of stress, strife, and drama? 8.Now read Genesis 28:12-18. Look at the closing words of verse 18. Think about Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Islamic Brotherhood. Think about the tension between Israel and the Muslim nations of the Middle East. The national tensions of 2011 A.D. began as family drama in 1900 B.C. 9.As you study this story… is God saying anything to you about your own family situation? Is there something He wants you to do? Witness: Today’s lesson reminds us that the Bible is connected to current events. Ask God to allow you to share the things you have learned today with others in conversations this week. Many people will be shocked to know the history behind todays headlines! The Tower of Babel
February 07, 2011 10:13 AM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD The Tower of Babel 2/6/2011 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome: Did your team win the Super Bowl? Notes from the message: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Word: The past Sunday we looked at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. God was not pleased with the people and so He ended their building project by confusing their language. In fact, God separated the people and sent them off to different places with different languages. We closed our time Sunday be comparing Acts 2 with Genesis 11. In today’s Life Group, we are going to revisit the four points of disobedience that God punished. We are going to ask the question, “Are these same things alive in the world today?” 1. Have you ever been a part of something that seemed to be very confused? Where people could not seem to hear what the other person was saying? This may have been a sports team, a job site, a family setting, or even a church experience. What was it like? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Now we are going to look at the three problems of Babel.
________________________________________________________________________ A. The people wanted a city for themselves. Is there a problem with Christians wanting things “only for themselves?” Has this ever been a problem in the church? ________________________________________________________________________ B. The people bought into the pagan culture and forgot God.
________________________________________________________________________ C. The people wanted to be famous! Think about the magazine covers of People, Us, Time, Newsweek, etc. Can you think of people in the news this past year that have gotten into trouble while trying to be “rich and famous?” Have you ever been tempted or caught up by some dimension of this area? ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Now think about Acts and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church. A. Read Acts 1:12-15. How were the disciples different from those who wanted to build something for themselves? ________________________________________________________________________ B. Read Acts 2:4. How is this different from the people who tried to build a tower to heaven for their own fame, glory, and fortune? ________________________________________________________________________ C. Now read Acts 2:11. How are the early disciples different from those who wanted to build a city and a tower to make themselves famous? ________________________________________________________________________ 3. What can we do to be like the disciples of Acts 2 rather than the tower builders of Genesis 11? ________________________________________________________________________ Witness: Use this series as an opportunity to invite people who might be curious about Bible history and the flow of the OT. You might be surprised by who will come. Righteously Flawed People
January 30, 2011 09:45 PM PST
PASTOR PAUL M.REINHARD Righteously Flawed People 1/30/2011 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God's leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome: Are you ready for more rain and cold? Notes from the message: Word: This past Sunday we looked at a righteous man. We looked at a man that God selected and used to save mankind. We looked at a man that Ezekiel, Jesus, Hebrews, and Peter mention in a favorable light. Then we looked at a man who got drunk, got naked, and cursed his grandson for something his son did. The amazing thing is that we are talking about just one man. Noah was a righteous man, mightily used of God, who also got drunk, naked, and cursed part of his family. I am not telling these parts of the story to embarrass or diminish Noah. I highlight them to encourage us! It is important to note that God allowed all the parts of the story to be told. 1.Think of some non-religious real life hero's. Men and women who have done amazing things. Can you think of negative sides to their life and character? 2.Can you think of some spiritual hero's who had both amazing strengths and glaring weakness? 3.We are going to look at Romans 7:14-25. This is an amazing passage of scripture
A.Read 14/15. What is the person's problem? Do you ever have this problem? B.Read 16/20. The Apostle seems to speak of a tug of war that is happening within us.
C.Read 21/23. Explain the "principle" that seems to be at work here. Have you ever felt like this? Is there some area of life where you feel like this now? D.Read 24/25. There is a brilliant question and an amazing answer given in these verses. What is the question? What is the answer? Have you received Jesus? 4.Read Luke 4:14-19. How does this quote from Isaiah the prophet explain the ministry of Jesus? How can this promise apply to your life and encourage you? Verses for reflection: 1 John 1:8-10 (NLT)
Witness: Use this series as an opportunity to invite people who might be curious about Bible history and the flow of the OT. You might be surprised by who will come. Come out Come out Wherever You Are
January 24, 2011 10:21 AM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD COME OUT COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE 1/23/2011 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome: Did you ever play hide and go seek, or a game like it, in the neighborhood with your friends when you were growing up? Notes from the message:
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Word: Genesis 1 tells the story of creation. Genesis 2 and 3 focus upon the creation of Adam and Eve. They explore their call and their fall. Through it all we will see the heart of God. The same heart that created in unity, and community. As we continue our journey in Genesis pay careful attention to the words, and attitude, of God. 1. Have you ever had a dog that liked to run away? Tell us about it. 2. Read Genesis 2:7. Do you see any tenderness or intimacy in this verse? Where? 3. What is God’s concern for the man in 2:18? What is God’s tone? 4. How would you explain 2:25 in your own words? 5. Read Genesis 3:1-4. What lies and misquotes are told in these verses? 6. In verses 6-7, what are the first two results of sin? Have you ever felt like this? 7. Verses 8 and 9 are amazingly important. They set the stage for the rest of the story of the Bible. What is going on here between God and man? Why? Have you ever hidden from God? Why? 8. Read 10-13. Does anybody take responsibility for their actions? Have you ever played the blame game when you were in trouble? 9. Read 20-24. What is the ultimate penalty for their sin? 10. What does God do to fix this problem? Revelation 2:7 Reflection:
Witness: Use this series as an opportunity to invite people who might be curious about Bible history and the flow of the OT. You might be surprised by who will come. In The Beginning
January 16, 2011 08:40 PM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD IN THE BEGINNING 1/16/2011 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God’s leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome: What is the coolest “natural wonder” you have ever seen? Notes from the message:
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Word: Most debate and analysis of Genesis chapter one centers on time and science. People debate seven literal days of creation against seven seasons of creation. Scholars argue the literal sense of Genesis verses the figurative potential of the same text. Dr. McDaniels at Eastern Seminary challenged us to put aside time and science. He challenged us to see Genesis as a book of beginnings, about relationships, and to place it in the proper geographic and cultural context. Our Professor challenged us to compare the God of the Jews, and our Creation Story, to the other god’s of the ancient Near East. He challenged us to put aside the debate, and allow the Bible to speak. What does it say to us about the God we serve. If we read Genesis one, and let it speak, it has something amazing to say! We concluded Sunday’s message with four thoughts from the Creation. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit worked together in community
God declared that creation was very good.
Keep these four points of Genesis one in mind
1.What do you think God did after He took the seventh day off? 2.Read John 1:1-18 out loud… A.Who is the Word in verses 1 & 2? What two really important things do we learn about Him in these verses? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ B.Find three great truths in verses 3-5. Have you seen God doing any of these things in your life? What are they? How is it going? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ C.Read verses 10-13… How do you think Jesus felt about the way His own people treated Him? What amazing promise, or offer, has He made to us? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ D.Reflect upon verse 14. Do some imagining... What does it “look like” that the creator of the universe has “moved into the neighborhood” as The Message puts it? How would your Christianity change if Jesus literally moved into your house? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ E.In Genesis one God blessed Adam and Eve. Read verses 16-18. Does John think God has kept His promise? What does He tell us about seeing God in Jesus? Prayer: End your time today by telling God thank you for the blessings in your life!
Witness: Use this series as an opportunity to invite people who might be curious about Bible history and the flow of the OT. You might be surprise The Big Picture
January 09, 2011 05:15 PM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAULM.REINHARD THE BIG PICTURE 1/8/2011 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs,
Welcome:
Word: Most Christians are familiar with many stories from the Old Testament. They know about Abraham, David, and Noah. They have heard about Adam, Eve, and the building of a temple. They know a second temple was built at some point. They heard about Israel going into captivity, and the preaching of the prophets. However, it is oftentimes difficult, from just the reading of scripture, to put it all together in one clear picture.
1.Is there somebody in your group that enjoys using maps, studying maps, and tracking a journey on a map? If so, ask them what they do and why they enjoy it! 2.Now we are going to treat our Time Line as a map and begin growing in our understanding of the Old Testament. [OT=Old Testament]
3.Now follow the dates across the center isle of the TL. Note several special dates that will help you place many events and authors of the OT. A.Just above 1921 BC you will find Abraham. Current scholars date Abraham between 1900 and 2100 BC. This is perhaps the most accurate of the ancient dates to begin a Bible chronology. B.Who is above the 1000 BC mark? C.Now find 975 BC, 721 BC, and 586 BC. Each of these were very significant change points for the nation of Israel. The nation split, or went into captivity. This is why Jews look back on the days of David in 1000 BC as the "high water mark" of the Kingdom of Israel. Identify what occurred on these three dates. 4.Look along the bottom of the TL. Read the names of the books of the OT which match the different time periods and events. This will give you a "picture" of where the books fit chronological. .. And what they cover. 5.The last things we are going to look at today are the prophets. The names of the prophets are found in small print with dotted lines. The lines show when they preached, where they preached, and what kings they preached under. Some of the prophets preached while Israel was in captivity. Read through the list of the prophets ... which ones do you know best? Why? THOUGHT:
WITNESS: Use this series as an opportunity to invite people who might be curious about Bible history and the flow of the OT. You might be surprised by who will come. A New Beginning
January 09, 2011 05:11 PM PST
WWW.NORTHPOINTSB.COM PASTOR PAUL M. REINHARD
1/2/11 A NEW BEGINNING PSALM 37 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God's leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome:
Notes from the message: Word: King David lived a rich and full life. He went from shepherding, to fighting, to the palace, to running for his life, to being King, to running for his life, and back to being king. Along the way he praised God, sinned, obeyed God, sinned, wrote Psalms, and sinned. He had family intrigue, riches, poverty, hunger, and plenty. He knew the heights and the depths of life. He drank deeply of the cup of faith, and at times, missed the boat completely. David has much to teach us. Psalm 37 is filled with his God directed thoughts. As I read through the Psalm I gathered the promises and blessings under nine headings. Today in your Life Group look at the headings, read the verses, and then ask yourself the following question. 1. Which of the following headings apply to some area of your life? How do they apply? What steps might God have you take? A. Trust, delight, and commit to God ... Psalm 37:3-6 B. Wait on the Lord ... Psalm 37:7 c. Don't lose your soul... Psalm 37:11 & 16 D. Be Godly and Innocent... Psalm 37:17-19 E. God Directs and Delights in You ... Psalm 37:23-25 F. Be Generous... Psalm 37:26-27 G. God will NOT Abandon His Own ... Psalm 37:28-31 H. Hope in the Lord ... Psalm 37:34 I. God Saves ... Psalm 37:37, 39, and 40 2.Is there one of these that has a special meaning to you?
GOING DEEPER: You might want to spend some time on your own and look at the warnings and curses of Psalm 37. Try grouping and naming them like we have done for the blessings and promises. They are a powerful list of things not to do! Witness:
ENJOY A GOD PLEASING CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 26, 2010
December 26, 2010 02:05 PM PST
PASTORPAULM.REINHARD THE CHRISTMAS YOU'VE ALWAYS LONGED FOR ENJOY A GOD PLEASING CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 26, 2010 Worship: Begin your time together by connecting with God through songs, prayers, and creative arts. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and minister in your group! Be open to God's leading and presence! Enjoy this time with God and one another! Welcome: How was your Christmas? Notes from the message: Word: This past Sunday we talked about putting your hands to the plow and not looking back! We spoke about faith, priorities, not looking back, the hard work of plowing, diligence, digging out if you’re stuck, patience, and partnership. Today we are going to look at some very specific parts of the Christmas story. As we look at these verses I want you to focus on Mary and Joseph as real people. Ponder the high level of change that God brought into their lives!!!
2. Let's look at some specific verses in the Christmas story. As we look at these verses ask ... How would you feel if God asked you to do this thing? How would it impact the rest of your life?
C. Luke 2:3-5
Consider:
None of us is in the unique position of Mary and Joseph. However, if you take the Lordship of Christ in your life seriously then no area should be off limits. We should be willing to go where God wants us to go, do what God wants us to do, and say what God wants us to say. Commit your hands to the plow in 2011 ... and see what kind of an amazing faith journey God has for you! Witness: Commit yourself to seeking and serving God in Celebration, Life Group, and a Mentoring Triad. As you grow in your faith and leadership skills, be looking forward to the day when God uses you to lead somebody to Christ, mentor them in a triad, and perhaps Shepherd a Life Group where people can grow in Worship, Fellowship, Word, and Witness. Use your gifts in the Kids Connection, Kids Slot, service, and leadership opportunities within and
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