God’s Word: An Uncontrollable Force
Practical Tips For When You're Facing Difficulties • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 7 viewsIn both the British military expeditionary forces and the church, small groups are dispersed across a large area of operations. The challenge for both organisations is to raise up well-equipped lay leaders to provide spiritual care. Isaiah reminds us that anyone who carries God’s word will be effective in their ministry.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction (5m)
Introduction (5m)
The UK leads the UK Joint Expeditionary Force
The UK leads the UK Joint Expeditionary Force
A pool of high readiness, adaptable military forces designed to respond rapidly, anywhere in the world, wherever there is a sudden crisis. It includes commando, airborne, armoured, aviation, air and maritime task groups.
What does that have to do with the church?
What does that have to do with the church?
More than you might imagine! Mission of the church is much like the mission of the UK Joint Expeditionary Force.
Both expeditionary.
Both respond to crises.
Both forward stationed.
Indeed, TSA needs an expeditionary force of its own.
This corps cell groups have the potential to be its expeditionary forces
This corps cell groups have the potential to be its expeditionary forces
Members of UK Joint Expeditionary Force must be well-led, cared for physically, emotionally, spiritually, both in and out of combat.
We need the same.
Cell groups can help with our spiritual fitness - our holiness.
Will help develop expeditionary style of ministry - ensure we are fit to respond to crises in community, forward stationed wherever we find ourselves M-F.
Explanation (5m)
Explanation (5m)
The Key to All This is the Word of God
The Key to All This is the Word of God
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
An uncontrollable force.
True life comes from it (He spoke and there it was).
We cannot control God’s Word.
We receive it from him.
That’s what happens when we sit together in cell groups and study God’s Word.
God’s Word overcomes death.
We cannot quench its power.
God’s Word is for salvation of whole created order, not just human beings.
It saturates us. God pours his Word out on us.
When we hear God’s Word, we flourish.
It’s huge. Worth everything. Worth God sacrificing Jesus.
God promises to renew everything.
He promises us to give us abundant life through his Word.
That’s the magnitude of what we sit down to study every time we join with our cell group.
That’s why cell groups can become this corps expeditionary forces, ready to respond to community crises and forward stationed wherever we find ourselves each week.
Application (5m)
Application (5m)
The Secret to Being God’s Expeditionary Forces Wherever we are this week is to carry God’s Word with us
The Secret to Being God’s Expeditionary Forces Wherever we are this week is to carry God’s Word with us
You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
Under no illusion - one sermon a week is not enough!
Research - remember about 5% of what I say.
You’ll remember about 50% of something you discuss.
That’s why vital to be in a cell group if you want to carry God’s Word with you into each week, if you want to grow in holiness and spiritual maturity.
If you will commit to being in a cell group and interacting with God’s Word in this way, then God’s promise is joy and peace - which you will spread to others.
Peace = shalom. Wholeness/well-being/holiness. You will be able to take with you strength and hope from studying God’s Word, into places of conflict - contentious personal relationships, difficult moral discussions/arguments, powerful temptations.
You will hear and discuss God’s Word and experience its power to change your life and the lives of those around you.
Cell groups is not a quick fix:
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
By hearing and discussing God’s Word in greater depth, in allowing it more room to change our lives for the better, helping us to grow in holiness, this corps and its members will offer ministry that will accomplish God’s purposes for years to come.
Will you be part of that journey?
Next Steps
Next Steps
Signing Up to Cell Groups
Signing Up to Cell Groups
Inviting anyone who wants to sign up for a cell group today - including those joining us online.
From 6 August, will produce weekly cell group sheets for use by groups to aid discussion, following on from sermon previous Sunday.
Only a few weeks away, holiday time, but will give opportunity for cell groups to bed down whilst other activities are quieter.
Will give opportunity for every cell group member to discuss what “shines out” to them from the passage being studied; to answer and ask questions; to apply what has been discussed to their own personal life and corporate life of corps, and to pray together.
Suggest meeting weekly for an hour, but that can be decided in each group.
Need hosts and venues. Might decide to rotate venues. Might decide to hold one here. Growth Group will continue as one. Others may decide to meet online. We can facilitate that through Corps Zoom account.
Some of these details will need to be ironed out. Try not to worry about them today. Simply sign up and show your desire to engage with God’s powerful Word and we will sort the details in the coming days.
Sheets in Hub with space for Hosts and cell group members, venue, days and times.
Video: One Army, One Mission, One Message - 5:00