Lesson Three • Reach
Pastor Jayson Combs
As we go through this series on Reach, Gather, Grow, and Back to Reach, I want us to keep answering the question, “What is mportant?”
1. What initially comes to mind when you think of the question, “What is important?”
I think of setting goals or New Year’s resolutions. I picture the goal of reading through the Bible in a year and by day six I am only three days behind. I know resolutions and goals are important as we change our priority list trying to understand what truly is important. Our lists normally include family, faith, food, and finances.
I have been working on a project in my basement. It sounds simple; I am installing carpet. A friend sent over a bucket of glue. The problem is that I do not know important details. I do not know how thick it should be, if there could be clumps, if I should apply it in a certain direction, and how fast it dries. It is important to know how much time you have. An experienced person would know what is important. They know what is vital.
2. Is there a project you started when you realized you were over your head?
Luke 10:38-42 discusses the matter of figuring out what is important, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
3. What are some initial observations from the passage?
Some might say Mary was lazy and oblivious to what was going on around her. Also, a woman was not to sit at the feet of a rabbi. Others might criticize Martha concluding that she was a bad person.
This passage is not about one woman being good and another one being bad. It is about choosing what is right. A wrong choice can open a channel to bitterness as we smolder inside.
Martha was not a lost soul. In John 11:25-27, we read about a discussion she had with Jesus, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’” Martha’s answer was clear and concise. She knew Jesus and believed.
Also, Martha’s attention to hospitality was not wrong. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” In 1 Peter 4:10, we also read, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
4. A lot can be said about Martha. How would you describe Mary?
Looking again at Luke chapter 10, the topic is not that Mary is a better person than Martha. It is not about “being a Mary” or “not being a Martha.” There is much more to the lives of these women. It is about a choice they each made in the same situation. It is about knowing what is important. It is about the necessity and priority of the Word of God in our lives.
I believe Martha wanted to sit at Jesus’ feet. Remember, she called Him Lord. I know hospitality is good, so she was not doing a sinful thing. Her misguided priorities finally caused Martha to lose the joy of serving.
5. What does the joy of serving mean to you?
There are at least four things that can happen when we have the wrong things as important.
When the wrong things are important we can become distracted.
Luke 10:40 points out, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’”
Mary became distracted. She was not able to pay attention to the Lord. Distracted literally means “to be dragged away.” It is an interesting image. We have all seen our minds dragged away from what we were supposed to be doing.
Mark 4:19 adds, “But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” The Word is choked (we do not hear it) because we are distracted by other things.
6. What kinds of things distract us today?
When the wrong things are important we can become stressed.
Please see what Jesus says in verse 41, “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.’” Jesus realized that Martha was anxious, troubled, bothered, disturbed, and uneasy. He sensed the panic in her mind. It is interesting that Jesus points out that she was bothered “about many things.”
7. What things stress us out today?
“People pleasers” need to be careful because their priorities can become a mess. Their mind gets distracted, their time gets wasted, and their heart is troubled.
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with others.
Luke 10:41 has another interesting thought, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” Martha is doing what she believes is right, but she then gets mad at Mary.
It does not appear that Martha challenges Mary. Unfortunately, when we have a problem with someone, we all too often tell others instead of confronting them. Martha’s unchecked attitude was destroying her inner soul of service. This is what causes people to become sour and stop serving or even leave the church. Martha had lost the integrating center which makes possible a singleness of vision and action.
8. Is there someone you are holding a grudge against that has you captive?
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with God.
Martha’s misplaced focus on what is important gets her to a point that she gets mad at God. She even says, “Lord, do you not care?” It appears she is saying that Jesus is part of the problem. Is He an enabler? She even starts giving Jesus directions, “Tell her then to help me.” Is she placing herself above Jesus without even realizing it? She accuses Jesus of not caring.
The crazy thing in the church is that people can come to a point where they try to bully God into doing what they think is right. They must feel they see something that God is missing so they have to point it out. They feel, “If He does notice it and He cared, He would change the situation.” It is disgusting. It is a shaky ground.
9. Where are areas that we might end up “blaming” God?
Reading and listening to the Word of God should be one of our highest priorities. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Jesus would rather have preferred Martha’s company over her service. He regarded her fellowship with Him as more important than her serving Him a meal. Her company meant more than her service.
Mary’s choice was good:
• In sickness and health
• In youth and old age
• In adversity and prosperity
• In life and death
10. What is your Bible reading plan?
11. What do you want it to be?
“But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:11
1. What initially comes to mind when you think of the question, “What is important?”
I think of setting goals or New Year’s resolutions. I picture the goal of reading through the Bible in a year and by day six I am only three days behind. I know resolutions and goals are important as we change our priority list trying to understand what truly is important. Our lists normally include family, faith, food, and finances.
I have been working on a project in my basement. It sounds simple; I am installing carpet. A friend sent over a bucket of glue. The problem is that I do not know important details. I do not know how thick it should be, if there could be clumps, if I should apply it in a certain direction, and how fast it dries. It is important to know how much time you have. An experienced person would know what is important. They know what is vital.
2. Is there a project you started when you realized you were over your head?
Luke 10:38-42 discusses the matter of figuring out what is important, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
3. What are some initial observations from the passage?
Some might say Mary was lazy and oblivious to what was going on around her. Also, a woman was not to sit at the feet of a rabbi. Others might criticize Martha concluding that she was a bad person.
This passage is not about one woman being good and another one being bad. It is about choosing what is right. A wrong choice can open a channel to bitterness as we smolder inside.
Martha was not a lost soul. In John 11:25-27, we read about a discussion she had with Jesus, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’” Martha’s answer was clear and concise. She knew Jesus and believed.
Also, Martha’s attention to hospitality was not wrong. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” In 1 Peter 4:10, we also read, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
4. A lot can be said about Martha. How would you describe Mary?
Looking again at Luke chapter 10, the topic is not that Mary is a better person than Martha. It is not about “being a Mary” or “not being a Martha.” There is much more to the lives of these women. It is about a choice they each made in the same situation. It is about knowing what is important. It is about the necessity and priority of the Word of God in our lives.
I believe Martha wanted to sit at Jesus’ feet. Remember, she called Him Lord. I know hospitality is good, so she was not doing a sinful thing. Her misguided priorities finally caused Martha to lose the joy of serving.
5. What does the joy of serving mean to you?
There are at least four things that can happen when we have the wrong things as important.
When the wrong things are important we can become distracted.
Luke 10:40 points out, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’”
Mary became distracted. She was not able to pay attention to the Lord. Distracted literally means “to be dragged away.” It is an interesting image. We have all seen our minds dragged away from what we were supposed to be doing.
Mark 4:19 adds, “But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” The Word is choked (we do not hear it) because we are distracted by other things.
6. What kinds of things distract us today?
When the wrong things are important we can become stressed.
Please see what Jesus says in verse 41, “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.’” Jesus realized that Martha was anxious, troubled, bothered, disturbed, and uneasy. He sensed the panic in her mind. It is interesting that Jesus points out that she was bothered “about many things.”
7. What things stress us out today?
“People pleasers” need to be careful because their priorities can become a mess. Their mind gets distracted, their time gets wasted, and their heart is troubled.
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with others.
Luke 10:41 has another interesting thought, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” Martha is doing what she believes is right, but she then gets mad at Mary.
It does not appear that Martha challenges Mary. Unfortunately, when we have a problem with someone, we all too often tell others instead of confronting them. Martha’s unchecked attitude was destroying her inner soul of service. This is what causes people to become sour and stop serving or even leave the church. Martha had lost the integrating center which makes possible a singleness of vision and action.
8. Is there someone you are holding a grudge against that has you captive?
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with God.
Martha’s misplaced focus on what is important gets her to a point that she gets mad at God. She even says, “Lord, do you not care?” It appears she is saying that Jesus is part of the problem. Is He an enabler? She even starts giving Jesus directions, “Tell her then to help me.” Is she placing herself above Jesus without even realizing it? She accuses Jesus of not caring.
The crazy thing in the church is that people can come to a point where they try to bully God into doing what they think is right. They must feel they see something that God is missing so they have to point it out. They feel, “If He does notice it and He cared, He would change the situation.” It is disgusting. It is a shaky ground.
9. Where are areas that we might end up “blaming” God?
Reading and listening to the Word of God should be one of our highest priorities. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Jesus would rather have preferred Martha’s company over her service. He regarded her fellowship with Him as more important than her serving Him a meal. Her company meant more than her service.
Mary’s choice was good:
• In sickness and health
• In youth and old age
• In adversity and prosperity
• In life and death
10. What is your Bible reading plan?
11. What do you want it to be?
“But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:11
Lesson Three • Reach
Pastor Jayson Combs
As we go through this series on Reach, Gather, Grow, and Back to Reach, I want us to keep answering the question, “What is mportant?”
1. What initially comes to mind when you think of the question, “What is important?”
I think of setting goals or New Year’s resolutions. I picture the goal of reading through the Bible in a year and by day six I am only three days behind. I know resolutions and goals are important as we change our priority list trying to understand what truly is important. Our lists normally include family, faith, food, and finances.
I have been working on a project in my basement. It sounds simple; I am installing carpet. A friend sent over a bucket of glue. The problem is that I do not know important details. I do not know how thick it should be, if there could be clumps, if I should apply it in a certain direction, and how fast it dries. It is important to know how much time you have. An experienced person would know what is important. They know what is vital.
2. Is there a project you started when you realized you were over your head?
Luke 10:38-42 discusses the matter of figuring out what is important, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
3. What are some initial observations from the passage?
Some might say Mary was lazy and oblivious to what was going on around her. Also, a woman was not to sit at the feet of a rabbi. Others might criticize Martha concluding that she was a bad person.
This passage is not about one woman being good and another one being bad. It is about choosing what is right. A wrong choice can open a channel to bitterness as we smolder inside.
Martha was not a lost soul. In John 11:25-27, we read about a discussion she had with Jesus, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’” Martha’s answer was clear and concise. She knew Jesus and believed.
Also, Martha’s attention to hospitality was not wrong. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” In 1 Peter 4:10, we also read, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
4. A lot can be said about Martha. How would you describe Mary?
Looking again at Luke chapter 10, the topic is not that Mary is a better person than Martha. It is not about “being a Mary” or “not being a Martha.” There is much more to the lives of these women. It is about a choice they each made in the same situation. It is about knowing what is important. It is about the necessity and priority of the Word of God in our lives.
I believe Martha wanted to sit at Jesus’ feet. Remember, she called Him Lord. I know hospitality is good, so she was not doing a sinful thing. Her misguided priorities finally caused Martha to lose the joy of serving.
5. What does the joy of serving mean to you?
There are at least four things that can happen when we have the wrong things as important.
When the wrong things are important we can become distracted.
Luke 10:40 points out, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’”
Mary became distracted. She was not able to pay attention to the Lord. Distracted literally means “to be dragged away.” It is an interesting image. We have all seen our minds dragged away from what we were supposed to be doing.
Mark 4:19 adds, “But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” The Word is choked (we do not hear it) because we are distracted by other things.
6. What kinds of things distract us today?
When the wrong things are important we can become stressed.
Please see what Jesus says in verse 41, “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.’” Jesus realized that Martha was anxious, troubled, bothered, disturbed, and uneasy. He sensed the panic in her mind. It is interesting that Jesus points out that she was bothered “about many things.”
7. What things stress us out today?
“People pleasers” need to be careful because their priorities can become a mess. Their mind gets distracted, their time gets wasted, and their heart is troubled.
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with others.
Luke 10:41 has another interesting thought, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” Martha is doing what she believes is right, but she then gets mad at Mary.
It does not appear that Martha challenges Mary. Unfortunately, when we have a problem with someone, we all too often tell others instead of confronting them. Martha’s unchecked attitude was destroying her inner soul of service. This is what causes people to become sour and stop serving or even leave the church. Martha had lost the integrating center which makes possible a singleness of vision and action.
8. Is there someone you are holding a grudge against that has you captive?
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with God.
Martha’s misplaced focus on what is important gets her to a point that she gets mad at God. She even says, “Lord, do you not care?” It appears she is saying that Jesus is part of the problem. Is He an enabler? She even starts giving Jesus directions, “Tell her then to help me.” Is she placing herself above Jesus without even realizing it? She accuses Jesus of not caring.
The crazy thing in the church is that people can come to a point where they try to bully God into doing what they think is right. They must feel they see something that God is missing so they have to point it out. They feel, “If He does notice it and He cared, He would change the situation.” It is disgusting. It is a shaky ground.
9. Where are areas that we might end up “blaming” God?
Reading and listening to the Word of God should be one of our highest priorities. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Jesus would rather have preferred Martha’s company over her service. He regarded her fellowship with Him as more important than her serving Him a meal. Her company meant more than her service.
Mary’s choice was good:
• In sickness and health
• In youth and old age
• In adversity and prosperity
• In life and death
10. What is your Bible reading plan?
11. What do you want it to be?
“But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:11
1. What initially comes to mind when you think of the question, “What is important?”
I think of setting goals or New Year’s resolutions. I picture the goal of reading through the Bible in a year and by day six I am only three days behind. I know resolutions and goals are important as we change our priority list trying to understand what truly is important. Our lists normally include family, faith, food, and finances.
I have been working on a project in my basement. It sounds simple; I am installing carpet. A friend sent over a bucket of glue. The problem is that I do not know important details. I do not know how thick it should be, if there could be clumps, if I should apply it in a certain direction, and how fast it dries. It is important to know how much time you have. An experienced person would know what is important. They know what is vital.
2. Is there a project you started when you realized you were over your head?
Luke 10:38-42 discusses the matter of figuring out what is important, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
3. What are some initial observations from the passage?
Some might say Mary was lazy and oblivious to what was going on around her. Also, a woman was not to sit at the feet of a rabbi. Others might criticize Martha concluding that she was a bad person.
This passage is not about one woman being good and another one being bad. It is about choosing what is right. A wrong choice can open a channel to bitterness as we smolder inside.
Martha was not a lost soul. In John 11:25-27, we read about a discussion she had with Jesus, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’” Martha’s answer was clear and concise. She knew Jesus and believed.
Also, Martha’s attention to hospitality was not wrong. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” In 1 Peter 4:10, we also read, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
4. A lot can be said about Martha. How would you describe Mary?
Looking again at Luke chapter 10, the topic is not that Mary is a better person than Martha. It is not about “being a Mary” or “not being a Martha.” There is much more to the lives of these women. It is about a choice they each made in the same situation. It is about knowing what is important. It is about the necessity and priority of the Word of God in our lives.
I believe Martha wanted to sit at Jesus’ feet. Remember, she called Him Lord. I know hospitality is good, so she was not doing a sinful thing. Her misguided priorities finally caused Martha to lose the joy of serving.
5. What does the joy of serving mean to you?
There are at least four things that can happen when we have the wrong things as important.
When the wrong things are important we can become distracted.
Luke 10:40 points out, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’”
Mary became distracted. She was not able to pay attention to the Lord. Distracted literally means “to be dragged away.” It is an interesting image. We have all seen our minds dragged away from what we were supposed to be doing.
Mark 4:19 adds, “But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” The Word is choked (we do not hear it) because we are distracted by other things.
6. What kinds of things distract us today?
When the wrong things are important we can become stressed.
Please see what Jesus says in verse 41, “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.’” Jesus realized that Martha was anxious, troubled, bothered, disturbed, and uneasy. He sensed the panic in her mind. It is interesting that Jesus points out that she was bothered “about many things.”
7. What things stress us out today?
“People pleasers” need to be careful because their priorities can become a mess. Their mind gets distracted, their time gets wasted, and their heart is troubled.
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with others.
Luke 10:41 has another interesting thought, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” Martha is doing what she believes is right, but she then gets mad at Mary.
It does not appear that Martha challenges Mary. Unfortunately, when we have a problem with someone, we all too often tell others instead of confronting them. Martha’s unchecked attitude was destroying her inner soul of service. This is what causes people to become sour and stop serving or even leave the church. Martha had lost the integrating center which makes possible a singleness of vision and action.
8. Is there someone you are holding a grudge against that has you captive?
When the wrong things are important we can become angry with God.
Martha’s misplaced focus on what is important gets her to a point that she gets mad at God. She even says, “Lord, do you not care?” It appears she is saying that Jesus is part of the problem. Is He an enabler? She even starts giving Jesus directions, “Tell her then to help me.” Is she placing herself above Jesus without even realizing it? She accuses Jesus of not caring.
The crazy thing in the church is that people can come to a point where they try to bully God into doing what they think is right. They must feel they see something that God is missing so they have to point it out. They feel, “If He does notice it and He cared, He would change the situation.” It is disgusting. It is a shaky ground.
9. Where are areas that we might end up “blaming” God?
Reading and listening to the Word of God should be one of our highest priorities. Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Jesus would rather have preferred Martha’s company over her service. He regarded her fellowship with Him as more important than her serving Him a meal. Her company meant more than her service.
Mary’s choice was good:
• In sickness and health
• In youth and old age
• In adversity and prosperity
• In life and death
10. What is your Bible reading plan?
11. What do you want it to be?
“But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:11
Audience of One
Dr. Randy T. Johnson
Join The Team (JTT) is the opportunity of being part of something bigger than yourself. It is the calling of God to be involved with other believers in serving the Lord. Although it is a high calling, it is still a calling to all believers.
The coach is a vital part of every team. An effective coach places his players in the right position giving them needed instructions.
1. Who was your least favorite coach, director, or teacher?
2. What was it that made them (or any “poor” coach) ineffective?
3. Who was your favorite coach, director, or teacher?
4. What was it that made them (or other great coaches) influential?
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM
In football, “buying into the system” could mean that the wide receivers still perform strong routes even though they know the team is going to run the ball. Recently, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots only threw three passes on a windy Monday night game in Buffalo. It was the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a half-century. They ended up winning the game. The “system” worked.
As a church, we believe the system is the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As believers, we glorify God by reaching the world with the Gospel, gathering together as saints, and growing in the Word.
5.What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by reaching the world with the Gospel? What roles need to be filled during outreach events or even weekly?
6. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by gathering with the saints? What roles need to be filled during a gathering?
7. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by growing in the Word? What roles need to be filled concerning Growth Communities?
LISTENING TO ONLY THE COACH
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
Parents seem to know more than every coach (and definitely the officials). It can be difficult as their parent yells for them to do something different than what the coach instructed. Often there are not enough balls on the field or court for every child to please their parents.
Friends can be another distracting voice. Players may want to prove the naysayers wrong. They get teased for not scoring and begin to focus on the wrong things during the game. Sometimes they listen to friends with their flattery and start to believe they deserve something different.
8. What kind of spectators were your parents? What kind of spectator are you?
In our daily walk, Scripture talks about the importance of listening to “the Coach:”
• “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
• “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
• “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43
• “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
• “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:29
9. What verses stand out to you? Why?
10. What principles can be learned from these verses?
There may be times when what you are doing goes unnoticed. You may feel unappreciated. You might feel taken for granted. You might not get the best roles. When others say this (including the devil or yourself), remember that you only listen to the Coach. You have an audience of One!
The coach is a vital part of every team. An effective coach places his players in the right position giving them needed instructions.
1. Who was your least favorite coach, director, or teacher?
2. What was it that made them (or any “poor” coach) ineffective?
3. Who was your favorite coach, director, or teacher?
4. What was it that made them (or other great coaches) influential?
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM
In football, “buying into the system” could mean that the wide receivers still perform strong routes even though they know the team is going to run the ball. Recently, Mac Jones of the New England Patriots only threw three passes on a windy Monday night game in Buffalo. It was the fewest pass attempts in an NFL game in nearly a half-century. They ended up winning the game. The “system” worked.
As a church, we believe the system is the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As believers, we glorify God by reaching the world with the Gospel, gathering together as saints, and growing in the Word.
5.What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by reaching the world with the Gospel? What roles need to be filled during outreach events or even weekly?
6. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by gathering with the saints? What roles need to be filled during a gathering?
7. What are some ways one could Join the Team in regards to glorifying God by growing in the Word? What roles need to be filled concerning Growth Communities?
LISTENING TO ONLY THE COACH
Two of the biggest challenges for a coach are for the players to “buy into the system” and for them to listen to the coach above all other voices.
Parents seem to know more than every coach (and definitely the officials). It can be difficult as their parent yells for them to do something different than what the coach instructed. Often there are not enough balls on the field or court for every child to please their parents.
Friends can be another distracting voice. Players may want to prove the naysayers wrong. They get teased for not scoring and begin to focus on the wrong things during the game. Sometimes they listen to friends with their flattery and start to believe they deserve something different.
8. What kind of spectators were your parents? What kind of spectator are you?
In our daily walk, Scripture talks about the importance of listening to “the Coach:”
• “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
• “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4
• “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43
• “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
• “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Acts 5:29
9. What verses stand out to you? Why?
10. What principles can be learned from these verses?
There may be times when what you are doing goes unnoticed. You may feel unappreciated. You might feel taken for granted. You might not get the best roles. When others say this (including the devil or yourself), remember that you only listen to the Coach. You have an audience of One!