Ordinary People - Making Extraordinary Connections
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Ordinary People Making Extra-ordinary Connections
Ordinary People Making Extra-ordinary Connections
Connection definition
“A relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else.”
Miriam Webster:
“something that joins or connects two or more things.
“the act of connecting two or more things or the state of being connected.”
“a situation in which two or more things have the same cause, origin, goal, etc.”
“When ordinary people connect extraordinary things happen.”
One of the things we most easily take for granted is the power of our connections. God can take what is ordinary and makes something extraordinary out of it. This is a blessing that is available to everyone if we look for the God factor in our connections.
power of our connections. God can take what is ordinary and makes something extraordinary out of it. This is a
blessing that is available to everyone if we look for the God factor in our connections.
Ice Breaker: Think about a good love story. Alternatively, who was involved in your coming to Christ? Tell
girlfriend? If single how did your Mum and Dad meet? (Alternatively, who was involved in your coming to Christ? Tell
the story).
13 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus,
14 but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
1 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer.
2 He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more.
3 You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.
6 Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire.
7 But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.
8 This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
9 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
11 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.
12 This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.
13 This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.
14 You are my friends when you do the things I command you.
15 I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
16 “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
17 “But remember the root command: Love one another.
1 Cor 6:17
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?
11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
,
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
John 3:1-“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Q: Who is divinely connected in this passage of Scripture? What was the result of their divine connection?
Part 1: DIVINE FRUITFULNESS
If we become aware of the divine connections in our lives we can expect great fruitfulness and multiplication from
them as a result of God’s faithfulness.
If we take our divine connections for granted we minimize and limit our life and it can lead to devastation.
and it can lead to devastation. Together we are better.
Together we are better.
Read the following scriptures:
30 How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?
, ,
8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
,
9 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth.
10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!
11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.
12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Divine connections produce divine fruitfulness
You achieve more and see abundant fruitfulness because of a divine connection
Divine Connection Honour God
Divine Connection can last a life time
Can bring a man and woman together in loving relationship
Divine connection breeds genuine love with people
35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
Divine Connection builds security
9 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth.
10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!
11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.
12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Divine Connection brings extra-ordinary opportunity
fruitfulness because of a divine connection?
Physical Connections - Don’t be a Loner
A. Hang out with friends, don’t be socially disconnected from people, but choose carefully who you hang out with.
14 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark?
15 Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?
16 Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
17 So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.
Don’t fall in love with “the bad boy” or “bad girl.” Don’t hang out with them. I mean risk takers, who are always out to bully, or dishonour, disrespect others. Those who are out to take advantage of you, or make you do weird things.
This generation tend to be attracted to “the bad boy” (Watching too much dating shows on tv, will get you that.)
Examples: Dating Naked, The Farmer wants a wife, Ex on the Beach, Bachelorette, The Bachelor
Friends
B. Hang out with your Christian Family
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Prov
25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb
25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Visit each other, Call each other Go for coffee, hang out
Call each other
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Your Christian family
Go for coffee, hang out
Be part of a LifeLink Group
C. Connect with Your Pastors
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
Heb 13:17
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
17 Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?
Heb
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
1 Pet 2
1 Pet 2:
D. Maintain your God-Connection
God
Study God’s Word and you will be refreshed
2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
3 You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
:
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Pet 2
: 2
Psalm 1:
Develop a prayerful connection with God
Q: What are some examples of good fruit that comes from divine connections in different areas of our lives? Look at
relationships, work, ministry and friendships.
29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
and the following quote:
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved” - Mother Theresa
Divine Connection can last a life time
Can bring a man and woman together in loving relationship
Divine connection breeds genuine love with people
35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
Divine Connection builds security
9 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth.
10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough!
11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.
12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.
Eccle
Divine Connection brings extra-ordinary opportunity
PART 2: WHAT CAUSES DISCONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE
Bad experiences with others
Selfishness: Its all about me syndrome
Pride: We don’t belong to the same class of people
Fear of commitment
18 There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
1
PART 3: HOW DO WE PREVENT DISCONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND GOD?
“When we allow God’s word take root in our lives, we will always encounter healthy connections”
What stops people from connecting with others?
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIVINE CONNECTION
Physical Connections - Don’t be a Loner
A. Hang out with friends, don’t be socially disconnected from people, but choose carefully who you hang out with.
14 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark?
15 Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?
16 Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
17 So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.
Don’t fall in love with “the bad boy” or “bad girl.” Don’t hang out with them. I mean risk takers, who are always out to bully, or dishonour, disrespect others. Those who are out to take advantage of you, or make you do weird things.
This generation tend to be attracted to “the bad boy” (Watching too much dating shows on tv, will get you that.)
Examples: Dating Naked, The Farmer wants a wife, Ex on the Beach, Bachelorette, The Bachelor
B. Hang out with your Christian Family
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Visit each other, Call each other Go for coffee, hang out
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Be part of a LifeLink Group
Divine Connection Honour God
C. Connect with Your Pastors
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
17 Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Divine Connection can last a life time
D. Maintain your God-Connection
Study God’s Word and you will be refreshed
2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.
3 You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Divine connection build genuine love with people
Develop a prayerful connection with God
Q: What are some examples of good fruit that comes from divine connections in different areas of our lives? Look at
relationships, work, ministry and friendships.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Develop your relationship with God through worship
Connection brings extraordinary opportunity. God takes ordinary people and puts them together to do something
extraordinary.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Q: Why do you think God called both Paul and Barnabas?
Don’t leave your CONNECTION to chance, develop a purposeful Connection
8 BENEFITS OF MAINTAINING A CONNECTION WITH GOD
Increased productivity
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
2. Ability to do all things
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
3. Freedom to ASK and RECEIVE answers to your needs
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
4. Evidence of your discipleship
4. Evidence of your discipleship
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
5. Experience the Father’s intense Love
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:
6. Experience Complete Joy
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
7. Experience growth in your relationship with God (No longer a slave)
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
8. Ability to Produce Lasting Fruit
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Personal reflection & Challenge:
Leaders note: Highlight that Barnabas and Saul had been called to the work together. Key words
“Them” and “Sent”. Connection brings extraordinary opportunity.
Do you know what you have been called to do, and who you are called to do this with?
Who are the people in your world that you are taking for granted?
Who do you need to reconnect with?
What might be stopping you from reconnecting with someone or developing your God-connection
What connections do you need to make an investment into this week?
connections do you need to make an investment into this week?
