Sunday - February 15th Study

We were going to study Ephesians 3: 20 and the referenced scriptures to it.

Ephesians 3: 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

Romans 16: 25-26 All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter.

2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, "He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God."

12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

When we arrived for the study and sat down to begin the study our host and hostess shared about the need of a family in the neighborhood. We decided as a group that instead of doing a study it would be better for us to help them. When we finished helping them they expressed how much it meant for us to help them and that it brought glory to God. When we sat down and talked about what God had just done through and in us.

Later when I got home I realized we had done more than the study I had planned we had lived it. We gave away to another family what God had given to us. We sowed the seeds that could produce fruit in the lives of the other family. Our actions were the study put into practice and it brought glory to God.

Taking what God has given to us and multiplying it in the lives of others is the goal of our small group.

Are you religious? or Are you a Follower of Jesus?

Sometimes people will ask me if I am a religious man. I usually answer no because they are expecting me to talk about how often I attend church or how I worship or what dos and don'ts I believe a Christian should focus on. If we looked honestly at the standard Jesus' brother, James, set for us we would find that most of us are religious by worldly standards but not by God's.

James 1: 26-27 Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. (The Message)

James 1: 26-27 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless religious worship religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. (Amplified Bible)

James is telling us here that true worship and religion is focus on serving the orphans, the widows and others who are down troddened.

In Matthew 25: 31-46 Jesus tells us that He will separate nations by how they served Him by feeding him when he was hungry, by giving him a drink when he was thirsty, by entertaining him when he was a stranger, by visiting him when he was sick or in prison and by clothing him when he was naked.

We like the people of His day might ask, "When did we do these things for You, Lord?" His answer to us just as it was then is "When you did it to someone else."

So my message is we can sing perfectly the most beautiful of worship songs, pray long deep prayers, read the scriptures daily and do all of the things religious people do and still not be among the ones Jesus calls His sheep.

When was the last time you served a widow, an orphan, the hungry, the homeless or the addicted? That was the last time you were truly a follower of Jesus. I hope you will join us as we serve those who Jesus would serve.

If this stirred anything in you please leave a comment.

Worship Music of the Vineyard

In the Vineyard we use worship songs to prepare our hearts for the message that God wants to bring to use through the sermon or small group study. Following are some of the songs we sing.
I hope that God will speak to you through one of these songs today.

by Jeremy Riddle


by Chris Tomlin


by Brenton Brown


Other examples of Worship Songs we sing






For more information about the worship music of the Vineyard go to Vineyard Music at http://www.vineyardmusic.com/.

In my future posts I will include a worship song at the beginning of the topic we cover in our small group.

If God touched your heart through one of the above songs please share it with us. We would like to pray for you.

Prayer

Our study for this week will be on Prayer. A good movie to watch on this subject is "The List"

The Gospels record several instances of Jesus praying. Read Matthew 14:28; Mark 6:46, 14:32; Luke 6:12, 9:28. Where was Jesus in these verses and who was with Him? Do we have to be in a special prayer room in order to pray?

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells a parable about prayer. Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!' 4-5 "He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'"
Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

Ephesians 6:12-13 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

How did God speak to you through these scriptures?

How will you apply this week's lesson to your life?

How can we pray for you today?

Here is the challenge for us: For the next 30 days we will pray for each other seeking God's intervention in our lives. We will not be asking for specific areas but seek God to reveal in a supernatural way the things He wants us to focus on. At the end of the 30 days we will discuss what God did in our lives.

January 25, 2009

This was our first meeting and we discussed the vision and format for the study.

We decided we will meet every other week or more and Larry Clark would be responsible to notify everyone of any changes.

Meeting Guidelines
1. We will respect each other.
2. What is personally shared at the meeting will stay within the group.
3. Every one is encouraged to participate but every one is welcome to keep silent.

Format for Group
Opening Prayer/Announcements 5 minutes
Teaching 10-15 minutes
Discussion 20-30 minutes
Closing 10-20 minutes
Fellowship (Food & Drink) 10-20 minutes

Our Focus for 2009
1. Pray for an out pouring of the Holy Spirit in an unprecedented way in our community.
2.Pray that the people of our community will see Jesus as He really is.
3. Pray that the people of the community would find healing for the wounds caused by the church.
4. Pray that the church would wake up to the needs of the people of the community.
5. Pray that the church would see God's plan for the community.

We want to be a home group that worships God in song and action.
1. James 5: 13-15 Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out. (The Message version of the Bible)

2. James 1: 26-27 Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. (The Message version of the Bible)

We plan to join with other churches and organizations in Louisburg, KS to serve the poor, the hurting, the addicted and the rejected. We will focus on sharing the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God without placing shame on people. We believe Christ Kindness and the truth convicts us of sin and the Holy Spirit leads us to repentance and the lies of life condemns us and Satan's world moves us to shame resulting in us hiding and becoming isolated.

We believe God is leading us to grow this group and new groups which will result in a new church plant in the Louisburg, KS area.