If we don’t, then who will?

This video is the final part of the Mature series, which has been discussed in previous posts. In this part I discuss what our society has become with the group, and issue the challenge to stand up and make a difference. This wraps up the discussion on maturing in Christ by calling us to DO the things that help us to mature and change our environment.

YouTube Video :: Video :: Focus Lesson: Got Maturity?, Part 4 of 4  

Questions to consider:

1. Look around at the people you work with, the news and other programming on television, the advertising messages that we are blasted with all day, and think about the current issues being discussed by government.
2. Are you satisfied with what you see going on? Does what you see in the world around you line up with your Biblical worldview?
3. What are the three biggest issues that you see? What issues in society today are your biggest pet peeves? Identify a few issues that are close to your heart.
4. What are you doing to change things? Are you speaking you mind to someone that can help make a difference (try calling or writting to elected officials, tv executives, etc.)? How can you help to advance the cause of Christ in society today?

 

Now, GROW UP!

This is part three of the lesson on the Mature point for the Focus Young Adults Ministry. The focus of this part of the lesson is on discussing ideas that allow you to work out your faith in such a way that we would become more mature Christians. After this lesson, we have already completed two of the four ideas that we created during this meeting: (1) we had a night that we went out and had prayer over “strongholds” in our city, and (2) we held a Movie On The Lawn “outreach” event where we played Facing the Giants for free, and also gave away hot dogs, drinks, and popcorn.

We also discussed what this maturity looks like, and why it is so important for us to mature as Christians.

YouTube Video :: Video :: Focus Lesson: Got Maturity?, Part 3 of 4  

Questions to consider:

1. What sorts of prayer activities can you do now, and create a habit of doing, that will help you to grow in Christ through your dialogue with Him? Are there things in the city that you live in that need to be prayed over? What about globally? Are there social issues that are important to you that you could be praying for regularly? What about the persecuted church around the world?
     
2. What kinds of things should you be studying right now in order to mature your Christian thinking? Do you need to focus on Bible study, and digging into the Word itself? How about studying differences in world views so that you can better understand how your thinking compares to that of others around you? What about other lifestyle topics, like world religions, or science, and other things that people may have strong feelings about?
     
3. How can you experience the sharing of God’s love by reaching out into your community? It may be evangelistic events like drama productions or street witnessing. Or it may be in “just because” campaign designed to just love and not preach. God commanded us to “Go”, so what can you do to obey that command today?
     
4. Now take a look at the church body. What can you do to express love to one another in such a way that “this is how the world will know that [we] are [Jesus'] disciples”? It should not be a statement like “I’d like to do such-and-such”, but rather it should be the humble question of “what do you need me to do for you?”. How can you bless the body today?
     
5. What would you say that your own maturity as a Christian would look like? How dedicated are you getting to that point in your life? Why is it so important for you mature in Christ?

 

Are You Experienced?

This video is the second part of the lesson to the Focus Young Adults Ministry on our “Mature” Focus Point. This portion of the lesson focuses on the idea of gaining experience as a means of maturing in our faith in Christ. Check it out, and then discuss the following questions…

YouTube Video :: Video :: Focus Lesson: Got Maturity?, Part 2 of 4  

Questions for consideration/discussion:

1. Of the four “experience areas” mentioned, which ones are you active in, and how has that activity helped to build your faith in Christ? The four areas are:
• Prayer and Interscession
• Outreach
• Ministry to the Body
• Discipleship
2. Of the four experience areas mentioned, which ones do you need to be more active in? In what ways can you begin to gain experience in those areas?
3. What other ways can you think of that you can build experience that brings you closer to Jesus that are not in this list of four?
4. What are you going to start doing today to help you mature (gain experience) in Christ? How can make these things habit?
5. How do you think that these experiences will enhance your walk with God?

 

Got Maturity?

This video is part of one my lessons to the Young Adults Ministry that I lead. It is from my “Focus Creed Series”. Our creed is, “Through God, we will unite to transform our world by representing Christ, growing together, and equipping God’s people in order to honor and glorify His name.” With this creed, we have five “Focus Points”. This lesson is on the second Focus Point which is, “Mature – Striving to become all that God has called us to be.”

Watch this video, and then answer the questions that follow below…

YouTube Video :: Video :: Focus Lesson: Got Maturity?, Part 1 of 4  

Questions for further discussion:

1. If Paul was writing to the “Church of the United States” today, do you think that the letter would look similar to his letter to the church in Corinth? Why or why not?
    
2. Discuss the ‘position’ of the United States in relation to it’s wealth and importance among other societies around the world.
    
3. Discuss how Eastern and Western mindsets come together in this ‘melting pot’ and how some of this thinking filters into the church. What influences in thinking affect how the church operates today?
    
4. Discuss what kinds of divisions there are in the church today.
    
5. Discuss the church’s need and responsibility to mature, and grow in Christ.
    
6. What does the idea and process of maturing look like to you?