Final Exhortation

Small Group

Methodist Bishop - funny story

Didn’t know passage

Didn’t know group

People pleasing

Didn’t tell people what they needed to hear

God never changes

People are different- so message needs to be different

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Our time is up

Much that we will miss here, and much personal growth that the Lord has revealed that we’re processing

Finishing necessitates question: How did we do?

God has used a number of you to encourage us as well as to challenge us

None of us are about to be beheaded. We finished our leg of the race here, but you’re still racing

What I saw

Negative

Took a long time for us to fit in

Visitors feel welcome, but not newcomers.

Feel like I’m talking with High Schoolers

Entitled

Never confessed sin - everything is too vague

all prayer requests are acceptable prayer requests

Weakness or struggles are looked down upon, at least corporately

Delights

We never have been to a small church

Community that wants to spend time with each other

similarities

Acts 2 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

As time drew closer to leave, we felt loved and felt compelled to stay

Great time of rest

We have developed life-long friendships

Great memories

Helped us move in

Willingness to help

Lord willing you’ll help us move out too!!

Church baseball

Family and fellowship are key

Vegas

Interest in trying new things

All our game nights

Desire to love the Church

Gratitude

For all of you who we’ve got to meet and start building memories with

Thank you

Makes leaving much harder

For those of you who invested in us more of your time and energy

Thank you

God has used you so much for our betterment

Encouragements

Faithful with little, faithful with much

Finances

Opportunities

Befriend the least of these

a church is only as strong as its weakest link

Matthew 25:40 ESV

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Confess your sins to those you trust

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Small group isn’t the environment, but it can still be made known your spiritual need

Have accountability and earnest partners to pray for you and encourage you

Share the Gospel

Want a spiritual pedicure?

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Pursue the knowledge of your spiritual gifting

Don’t be afraid of the Holy Spirit

Pray for boldness as we see in Acts!

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

What weights are you wearing?

Being a millennial Christian doesn’t guarantee sanctification

hard work

We cannot run the race of the world, or anything like it.

Our life is too short, our mission too important, our attention spans too confined, our Gospel too great to miss out on this

Let us do this together

We believe in you, we love you, we know you believe in us and that you love us from 1000 miles away.

Pray for our ministry, and we’ll be praying for you

Questions:

Who are the spiritual role models in your life? Both living and dead?

What weights does the average Christian bear?

What does laying it aside mean?

Why is it so hard to share the Gospel?