Roots Session 4

Member’s Small Group

A SX WEEK SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE CURIOUS ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF TRINTY CHURCH

Justaseveryparentwantstheirchildrentobeagoodperson,andhavegoodcharacter,GodasourFatherhasgreatambitionsforusto.HisambitionisnothinglessthattorecreateusonceagainintoHisveryownimage.Inshort–Hewantsustobegodly.

Be a Great Person

AChristianDiscipleshipParadigmMostofusaretoomodesttoclaimtobegreataswearerightnow.Atthesametime,mostofusalsohaveaspirationstobebetterthanweare.Goodnews!Godhasthesameaspirations.Buthow?Sometimesweresolvetochange,aspiretochangeourselves.Oftenourresolutionsfallshort.Atothertimes,peoplereallydochangeforthebetter.OneofthemostbasicdescriptionsofaChristianisapersonwhohas“repented”,whichmeans“tochange”Here’saBiblicalparadigmofhowGodformsus:

Revelation(informationandinspiration) +Faith(beliefandaction) =Glory(godlycharacter)God’suniversecreatingwordisstillbeingrevealedtousthroughScripture,Christ,Creation,andotherways.Whenwehearorseeit,understand,andbelieve,andconsistentlyputthatfaithintopractice,thenourcharacterischanged.“Thoughtsleadontopurposes;purposesgoforthinaction;actionsformhabits;habitsdecidecharacter;andcharacterfixesourdestiny.”-TyronEdwardsGreat-grandsonofJonathanEdwards

Session Focuses

• Session 1 - Gospel

• Session 2 – Worship

• Session 3 – Community

• Session 4 - Discipleship

• Session 5 - Mission

• Session 6 - Membership

Discipleship

Expectation#4(thatGodhasforyou)

BeginsinWorship Thelifere-creatingWordofGodwillbepreachedeveryweekatTrinityChurch.It’sourhopethateachweekyou’reinspired,informed,encouraged,orconvicted.LifestyleofWorshipItbeginsinworship,butthat’sjustabeginning.Oneofourworshipvaluesittolivealifestyleofworship.IfGod’sWordisthebreadweliveby,andSundaymorningworshipwastheonlybreadyouate,youwouldbeprettyskinny–younightnotevensurvive!Youneedmore.That’swhyyouneedtoengageChristiandiscipleshippracticesduringtherestoftheweek.

WhataretheWaysGodFormsUs?ScripturePsa.119:11IhavehiddenyourwordinmyheartthatImightnotsinagainstyou.Psa.119:105Yourwordisalamptomyfeetandalightformypath.2Tim.3:14Butasforyou,continueinwhatyouhavelearnedandhavebecomeconvincedof,becauseyouknowthosefromwhomyoulearnedit,15andhowfrominfancyyouhaveknowntheholyScriptures,whichareabletomakeyouwiseforsalvationthroughfaithinChristJesus.16AllScriptureisGod-breathedandisusefulforteaching,rebuking,correctingandtraininginrighteousness,17sothatthemanofGodmaybethoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork.FromRCAWebsite:ThefinalauthorityintheReformedfaithisHolyScripture,thelivingWordofGod,spokentoeveryonethroughtheHolySpiritofGod.TheHolySpirittakestheWordofGodandmakesitrealandactualinourlives.ThishasalwaysbeenandwillalwaysbetheauthenticwellspringofReformedfaith.

PrayerMark1:35Veryearlyinthemorning,whileitwasstilldark,Jesusgotup,leftthehouseandwentofftoasolitaryplace,whereheprayed.Luke11:1OnedayJesuswasprayinginacertainplace.Whenhefinished,oneofhisdisciplessaidtohim,“Lord,teachustopray,justasJohntaughthisdisciples1Thess.5:16Bejoyfulalways;praycontinually;givethanksinallcircumstances,forthisisGod’swillforyouinChristJesus.SpiritJohn16:8Whenhecomes,hewillconvicttheworldofguiltinregardtosinandrighteousnessandjudgment:9inregardtosin,becausemendonotbelieveinme;10inregardtorighteousness,becauseIamgoingtotheFather,whereyoucanseemenolonger;11andinregardtojudgment,becausetheprinceofthisworldnowstandscondemned.12“Ihavemuchmoretosaytoyou,morethanyoucannowbear.13Butwhenhe,theSpiritoftruth,comes,hewillguideyouintoalltruth.Hewillnotspeakonhisown;hewillspeakonlywhathehears,andhewilltellyouwhatisyettocome.14Hewillbringglorytomebytakingfromwhatismineandmakingitknowntoyou."NeverseparatetheWordandtheSpiritoftheLord.IftheWordisdethronedfromitssupremacy,youopenthedoortothewildestenthusiasm,andhavenothingleftwherebytotrythespirits,whethertheybeofGod.IfyouexcludetheSpirit,youmakeformalists,andthechurchbecomesanEzekiel'svalleyofdrybones." -Dr.JohnHenryLivingston,afatheroftheRCAExperienceMatt.7:24“Thereforeeveryonewhohearsthesewordsofmineandputsthemintopracticeislikeawisemanwhobuilthishouseontherock.Job42:4[“Yousaid,]‘Listennow,andIwillspeak;Iwillquestionyou,andyoushallanswer

me.’5Myearshadheardofyoubutnowmyeyeshaveseenyou.6ThereforeIdespisemyselfandrepentindustandashes.”ChristianGrowthPractices(orDisciplines) -Worship,Prayer,Meditation -Solitude,SilenceandFasting -Simplicity,SubmissionandService -Community,Confession,GuidanceMostofthesecomefromACelebrationofDisciplinebyRichardFoster.Whatis“beinggreat”intheKingdomofGod?MadeintheImageofGodGen1:27SoGodcreatedmaninhisownimage,intheimageofGodhecreatedhim;Re-createdinChrist2Cor.5:17Therefore,ifanyoneisinChrist,heisanewcreation;theoldhasgone,thenewhascome!StillcalledtobelikeGod2Pet.1:3Hisdivinepowerhasgivenuseverythingweneedforlifeandgodlinessthroughourknowledgeofhimwhocalledusbyhisowngloryandgoodness.FruitsoftheSpiritGal.5:22ButthefruitoftheSpiritislove,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,23gentlenessandself-control.“InChrist”StatementsfromtheBible(SeparateHandout)HowWePracticeChristianFormation@TrinityChurch?Whatwedoasacongregation-SmallGroupsandClasses.MostofthemonSundaymorningsandWednesdayevenings.-BookStudyGroups-SeminarsandSpecialEvents-BiblicalPreaching&TeachinginWorship

FieldWorkforNextWeek:You’vehadachancetolearnabitaboutDiscipleship.OurhopeforyouisthattheDiscipleshippracticesareameansofgracethroughwhichyouarere-createdinauniquerepresentationofJesus.InordertohelpyouinyourChristianGrowth,Iinviteyoutotakeusethe“NextStepsChristianGrowthSurvey”toencourageyou.AnswerthequestionsintheDiscipleshipSectionoftheNextStepsSurvey.Ifyou’reattendingasmallgroupgreat!Ifnot,identifythegroupthatyou’dliketobeapartofafterourRootsgroupends.PastorRandy

Asanindividualorwithoneortwoothers -Personalscripturereadingorlistening -PersonalprayerInChristStatementsfromtheBibleAlthoughdeadinsinmadealiveinChristRom6:11;1Cor15:22ReceivethegiftofeternallifeRom6:23NocondemnationRom8:1ThoughmanyformonebodyRom12:5;Eph3:6WefindgloryinChristRom15:7Sanctifiedandmadeholy1Cor1:2Givengrace1Cor1:4Wehavespiritual“fathers&mothers”1Cor4:15Wehavea“wayoflife”1Cor4:17Wehavehopebeyonddeath1Cor15:18Gloryinoneanother1Cor15:31God’spromisesarefulfilled2Cor1:20Westandfirm2Cor1:20Leadintriumphalprocession2Cor2:14Speakwithsincerity2Cor2:17Veil(oflegalismandshame)isremoved.2Cor3:14Madeintoanewcreation2Cor5:17TheworldisreconciledtoGod2Cor5:19Wehavefreedom(fromlegalism)Gal2:16WearejustifiedGal2:17Weareallsons(anddaughters)ofGodGal3:26Wearemadeone(regardlessofgender,race,socialstatus).Gal3:28WhatcountsisfaithexpressedthroughloveGal5:6BlessedintheheavenlyrealmswitheveryspiritualblessingEph1:3PurposesofGodmadeknownEph1:9GodexertspowertoraisethedeadEph1:20Godraisedusup,seatedusintheheavenlyrealmsEph2:6Godshowstheincomparablerichesofhisgrace,expressedinhiskindnesstousEph2:7CreatedanddogoodthingswhichGodhaspreparedEph2:10Broughtnear(toGod)Eph2:13Gentiles(non-Jews)shareinthepromisesofGodEph3:6GodaccomplishedeternalpurposesEph3:11GodforgaveusEph4:32OurjoyoverflowsPhil1:26HaverighteousnessPhil3:9WearecalledheavenwardPhil3:1 4PeaceofGodguardsourheartsPhil4:7GodwillmeetallourneedsPhil4:19AllthefullnessofdeitylivesinbodilyformCol2:9Thedeadwillberaised1Thes.4:16

Wecangivethanksinallcircumstances1Thes.5:18Wehavethegracetoliveaholylife2Tim1:9Findstength2Tim2:1Weobtainsalvation2Tim2:10;3:15WecouldbeboldPhilemon8GodcalledustoHiseternalglory1Peter5:10What’sExpectedofUsExperienceGod’srevelationthroughtheBibleandothermeans-whichshapeourcharacterintoauniquerepresentationofChrist’simage,-informsourworld-view,-directsourdecisions,and-motivatesourmission.-Practicespiritualdisciplinesespeciallyprayer. -LetterofUnderstanding,August2008 SectionTitled:ExpectationsofMembers