Tracy and I were recently sitting in an airport and a conversation emerged with a man sitting near us. As we began engaging in conversation, I found myself listening to what he said but also listening to what God might want to say to me about him or to him. By the end of our conversation we all agreed it was a divine appointment that God had orchestrated.
We are all designed by God to be led by the Spirit of God. This is a place where every decision becomes a discussion with God as we invite his input into every conversation. In Acts 15 we find mature believers coming together to discuss direction to provide for the church. Clearly there is a conversation within the conversation taking place:
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. NIV
Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. Jesus came to address the deepest sense brokenness in our fallen world. God knows exactly what we need.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word...
The Greek word for “Word” is “Logos” from which we get our word “Logic”.
Jesus, the embodied logic of God, came to solve the world’s problems. God didn’t send political leader because the origin of our problems are not political. God didn’t send a military leader because the origin of our problems are not military problems. God sent what the world needs and the world needs the conversation of God embodied in Christ.
God addressed the world’s problems by initiating conversation with humanity. Jesus is the word. God was saying, I’d like to have a word with you. Let’s talk. Let’s learn to have an ongoing conversation on a deeper level with God for which we were all created to experience.
Rom 8:14-16 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. NIV
A deeper narrative exists within your soul. It’s a deeper narrative with God that holds you on course in the face of any storm, temptation or giant.
Filling your mind with things other than the things of the spirit will misdirect your passion and sabotage your mission.
A gluttonous, indulgent, entertainment-addicted, social media age filled with illicit desire has produced bored and boring people who lack the purpose for which we were created!
The world’s ideas get deeply embedded in our lives. The fallen nature naturally defaults to these perspectives. We are inclined to identify with dysfunction. We are designed to identify with destiny.
It’s only when we renew our minds and get God’s word seeded deeply in our hearts that we begin rising above the world’s damaging philosophies.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Spend some time reading and reflecting on Romans 8 this week.
Rom 8:1-5 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
As we set our minds on the things of God his ideas begin to emerge from our lives with a sense of purpose. This is what our 20 Points of Impact are all about. People are sensing direction from God to developing ideas that are materializing
20+ Points of Impact:
Care Portal: Online platform connecting needs of vulnerable families to provision from those who can help
24/7 prayer partnership – Americaprays.org
Men’s support Group in addressing pornography initial 5 week focus starting Sunday, Feb 16th
Women’s support Group in addressing pornography
Destiny Business Course launching as part of Destiny Leadership Institute.
Partnering with Transition Centers to serve those coming from a difficult past.
Foster & Adoption Family Support Group.
Step Parent support Group
Missions focus bringing water to indigenous villages
Marriage Mentoring Program assigning all newly marrieds this year to advanced couples
Missions focus bringing the Gospel with a prayerful focus on impacting drug lords of Latin America
Destiny Business Owners Association – online directory for easier access & support.
Transitional Living Residential Discipleship Program providing housing in efforts to address homelessness
Expanded ministry to seniors (especially low income seniors) visitation, handyman, financial help, food, wellness, etc
Sober Living ministry
Certified Programs teaching medical skills.
Christian counseling and support for deeper needs in people’s lives.
Destiny Bible study on youversion.
Stories of God Among Us celebrating testimonies of God’s grace & goodness.
I Love my City
Apartment outreach over spring break
Grief Support Group
Ministry efforts specifically to those who would feel ostracized by the church
ANOTHER SERVICE. ANOTHER LOCATION. Please turn in Connect Card to get involved.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
Please begin your group rehearsing that which is coming by reading the dates and events from the back of the Sunday Note Card.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Over these next several weeks we are pressing into the idea that God is the ultimate conversationalist. Words are meant for more than mere communication. God uses words to create. He created the fabric and existence of the entire universe with his words. Jesus came to open the dialogue between each of us and our God. It was as if the Father said, “I’d like a word with you” so He sent His Word, Jesus to come and initiate a conversation at his table. When we are engaged in conversation with God our lives and the world around us is transformed.
This year in our Community Groups we want to start each group with the first and primary question:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Conversations take time. Make sure you are spending time alone with God reading your Bible and making time to pray.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. Have you ever had a conversation with somebody and afterward you thought about how it was a good or bad conversation? Share why you thought that.
Conversations require us to pay attention. There must be a willingness to not only concentrate on what is being said but to have concern about what is being said as well.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
3. What are the characteristics of a meaningful instead of surface conversation with somebody you know?
4. What are the characteristics of a meaningful instead of surface conversation with God?
Sunday we will focus on Romans 8. What stands out to you as we read these verses?
Rom 8:1-5 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:14-16 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. NIV
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Spend some time reading and reflecting on Romans 8 this week in preparation for Sunday.