2/26 CARE Sheet – “Pass It On!” series 4 of 4; “Holy Defiance?” Acts 4:1-31(vs. 19); 5:17-42 (vs.29); Acts 22:30 – 23:11 (23:5) ;

More to Come:

2/19 CARE Sheet – “Pass It On!” series 3 of 8; “Prayer Meetings at Home” Acts 12:1-19

Sermon Texts: Acts 12: 1-19, 25;   Luke 22; Acts 15:37-41; 2 Tim. 4:11  

IN A NUTSHELL – The gift of hospitality is an amazing gift. You would never think a person that enjoys hosting people in their home could get a front row seat to such amazing levels of ministry:  The birth of life changing traditions, the nurturing of young missionary minds, the utterance of miraculously answered prayers, and the consolation of heartbroken saints.  May God richly bless those that say, Dear Lord, What is mine is Your’s to use, Amen!

ICE BREAKER

• Can you describe an unanswered prayer request for which you almost hated God at the time, but later thanked Him for remaining silent?
• Can you describe a time when God seemed at such a distance but a relationship initiated in a small group made life bearable for the time?

CONNECTING TO THE TEXT

Acts 12:1-19

1. What type of political atmosphere was going on when James was killed and Peter imprisoned? Acts 12:1-19
2.  What type of room was the Lord’s Supper instituted in?    Luke 22:7-23
3. What happened to John Mark later in life? Acts 15:37-41; 2 Tim. 4:11
4.  Did those praying for Peter believe he was released at first? Acts 12:15

REFLECTING UPON OUR LIVES

1.  Does it seem unfair that James is killed, but Peter is released? Acts 12:1-19
2. How might having the prayer meetings in his home as a young person affect John Mark as a young missionary? Acts 15:37-41; 2 Tim. 4:11
3. How do you think James’ brother John, if he was at the prayer meeting, would feel seeing Peter standing at the door?
4. What does God intend for us to do with the comfort He gives us? 2 Cor. 1:3-5

 CONNECTING WITH THE WAY WE DO CHURCH

1. How can I sign up to help host a CARE group in my home?  Contact Doug, Attend the next CARE Group Leader Train Station (8:30am, 3/11), check out our CARE Group host description or express interest at Doug’s blog .
2. Contact Dawn Beaverson at tlcc@timberlakechristian.org if you would like to be on the TLCC Prayer and Announcement email list.

NEXT WEEK  2/26 -   “Holy Defiance?” Acts 4:1-31(vs. 19); 5:17-42 (vs.29); Acts 22:30 – 23:11 (23:5)  When does boldness become arrogant defiance? Is civil disobedience ever Christian?

2/12 CARE Sheet – “Pass It On!” series 2 of 8; “Knowledge Gives Way to Conversion at Conviction” Acts 2 &10

Sermon Texts: Acts 2  & 10

IN A NUTSHELL - You can’t be converted to something you don’t understand or believe.   “People ‘receiving Jesus’ without any understanding of their history, or Jesus’ history, as well as a Biblical worldview isn’t enough.  A simple knowledge that you don’t like where you are right now spiritually is not the same thing as being “Converted”. 1. What do you know about Jesus?  2. What do you believe about history (your’s and His’)?  3. What do you understand about your spiritual condition?  You can never declare yourself “saved” when you’ve never really acknowledged yourself as being “lost!”

ICE BREAKER – Without naming names, or sounding  judgmental…have you ever known someone that became a Christian in the midst of a crisis but it didn’t result in a true long term conversion? Why do you think some conversions that tend to be based on crisis or emotion often do not last? (consider Luke 8:6,13)

 CONNECTING TO THE TEXT

Acts 2

1. What descriptive terms are used to tell how the people felt who were listening to the apostles? 2:6,7
2. How many native languages appear to have been spoken by the apostles?
3. If we were to view Peter’s sermon as a type of legal brief outlining testimonies as evidences of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the son of God they had crucified,  what would be the specific sources or “exhibits” of eyewitness testimony? 15-21; 22-24; 25-29; 29;
4. Can you describe in a couple of sentences a summary of what the audience heard that so significantly “cut them to the heart?”
5. What did this evidence lead many in the audience to ask the apostles? Vs. 38
6. What various commands did Peter give in response to their question? vs. 38
7. And what was their response? vs. 38
8. What seemed to be a natural response to this major change in conviction? Vss. 42-47

Acts 10

1. Describe the character of Cornelius.  What was apparently the only things missing for him to become a “convert”? Acts 10:37-44
2. What does Acts demonstrate every “Convert” (repentant believer) doing immediately after they acknowledge their decision to commit to Christ? Acts 2:38-39;  2:41;  8:12-13; 8:36-39;  9:17-18; 10:47-48; 16:14-15;  16:32-33;  18:8

REFLECTING UPON OUR LIVES

1. Were there any significant “testimonies” or evidences of Jesus as a Savior of “Lost souls” presented to you by someone before you believed the Gospel?
2. Were there any key Scriptures that Jesus’ used to reveal Himself to you?
3. Were there any questions or dilemmas in your life that were clearly answered by Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection?
4.  Why is it impossible to call a person “a convert” unless their knowledge is reinforced by a personal conviction of Jesus’ authenticity and their own sinfulness?
5. Three questions you need to answer before you can say you’re lost AND then saved:1. What do you know about Jesus?  a. Can you defend your confidence in His resurrection? b. What do you believe about history (your’s and His’)? c. What do you understand about your spiritual condition?

 CONNECTING WITH THE WAY WE DO CHURCH

1. When should the church encourage people to get baptized… on Sundays before the church or during the week when they make their decision?
2. How much should a person know before they get baptized?

NEXT WEEK – 2/19 –  ”Prayer Meetings at Home”  Acts 12:1-19 (vss.12-17)  John Mark’s home.  Do you think John Mark’s authorship of the first book of the New Testament was influenced by the fact that Jesus and the disciples spent a significant amount of time in his house praying and listening to them teach?

2/5 CARE Sheet – “Pass It On!” series 1 of 8; “From Saul to Paul” Acts 9:1-25; 16:16-34

Youth Sunday; Tim Pittman Preaching!  ”Behind every good preacher is an amazing Mom and a Dad that really knows how to cheer on his son!”

Sermon Texts: Acts 9:1-25 & 16:16-34

IN A NUTSHELL - Seeing the light of the Gospel and feeling the fire of the Holy Spirit will not allow you to “hit the snooze button” in this life as a Christian. The Apostle Paul is a great example of spreading “his fire” to the lost.  WAKE UP oh Christian. WAKE UP!

ICE BREAKER – Think back about the time the newest “little one” was born into your family:  How many days (minutes) (seconds) was it before you had told 10 of those people to whom you were closest and you knew they hadn’t yet heard?  (Imagine having that same excitement telling people about the Grace of God.)

CONNECTING TO THE TEXT

1. Read Acts 9:1-18 and describe Saul’s attitude/demeanor, before, during and after his “lightning bolt experience.”
2. What was Ananias’ reaction to his assignment?
3. What was to be Saul’s life’s work? Ac. 9:15-16
4. Read Acts 9:20-25: How was Paul’s message/ministry received?  Does it seem strange that God would give a man a job and then God’s people would be so opposed to him?
5. Read Acts 16:16-34 and describe Paul’s attitude/demeanor, before, during and after his “imprisonment.”

REFLECTING UPON OUR LIVES

1. How do you think your witness would be affected if you would sing when things are going wrong?
2. What’s the chance that the Jailor would have been won to Christ without Paul having been imprisoned?
3. Have you been able to witness to someone specifically because of a very difficult situation?

 CONNECTING WITH THE WAY WE DO CHURCH

1. How do you think Paul’s relationship with the Philippian Church was influenced by his early struggles (Phil. 4:14-19)?
2. When do you feel most excited about “Church?” Is it when you are confident “the Church” is doing things right, or more so when you are convinced you are doing things right?

NEXT WEEK – 2/12 ““Knowledge Gives Way to Conversion at Conviction”  Acts2   How do you know a person is really converted to Christ?  It’s one thing to “say a prayer,” something else to “get baptized.”  They may both be involved in, but they do not equate to “conversion.” Describe the heart and head process those that were baptized went through before one could say they were “converted.”

1/29 CARE Sheet – “Count on Me!” series 5 of 5; “You CAN Count on Me! Mark 14 & John 21

“You Can Count on Me” – Bruno Mars

Sermon Texts: Mark 14 & John 21

IN A NUTSHELL - People disappoint us!  Period…  And we have disappointed others.  But Jesus, though he will never give us everything we want, will not let us down.  You can always count on Jesus to see through the circumstances, provide what is essential, receive us just as we are, AND refuse to leave us where he found us!

ICE BREAKER – Without naming names, describe a time when you felt betrayed by someone close to you and how it affected your relationship with that person.  If you are brave enough, share a time when you were the one who let someone else down and hurt them by something you said or did (or didn’t do).?

CONNECTING TO THE TEXT

 Mark 14

1. What are the pros and cons of being the type of person to be bold in your commitments like Peter? (e.g. First one to step out in faith- Mt. 14:28, and first one to step out in failure- Mt. 14:30.)
2. List the ways Peter fails in following Jesus in the New Testament. (doesn’t let children come to Jesus –Mk 10:13-14, doesn’t want Jesus to wash his feet – Jn. 13:8, wants to worship Elijah and Moses on the mountain – Mt. 17:4, falls asleep during prayer time – Mk 14:37, sinks after walking on the water – Mt. 14:30, cuts off Malchus’ ear – Jn. 18:10, denies Christ 3 times – Mk. 14:72, doesn’t believe Jesus is resurrected at first –Mk. 16:11-13, shows favoritism to Jewish Christians in Jerusalem – Gal. 2:11-14)

 John 21

1. In what way did Jesus make a special point to restore his relationship with Peter? Mk. 16:7
2. Thinking about Peter’s betrayal, what meaning or significance, if any, do you think there was in how Jesus phrased this exchange? (Asking 3 times “Do you love me?”)

REFLECTING UPON OUR LIVES

1. Have you ever made a bold promise to God about something in your life? ( A behavior, a habit, a goal, a mission, finances, purity, substance abuse, gossip, forgiveness, ministry involvement, etc.) Were you able to keep it?  If so, what details came together so that you succeeded?  If not, what happened that caused you to fail?
2. Knowing that Peter was restored by Christ after all he did wrong, can you draw comfort that Christ can restore you after all you’ve done wrong?

 CONNECTING WITH THE WAY WE DO CHURCH

1. If we are to follow Jesus’ example, what should be our response when others hurt and betray us?  Discuss some practical ways to do this.
2. What can you do to restore that relationship and show grace to them?  Think of ways to build bridges, rather than burn them.
3. Take some time to pray for one another and encourage one another to receive God’s forgiveness and to forgive others who have hurt you as well.

NEXT WEEK – Over the next two months we will see the growth, challenges and successes of the early Church, with particular focus on any place that a family is spotlighted. Another element of spiritual authority will be addressed on 2/26.  Holy defiance is boldness without arrogance and always seeks to avoid crossing God’s line of authority.  For next Sunday read Act 9 and Acts 16.  Be prepared to discuss how Saul was different once converted and became known as “Paul.”

1/22 CARE Sheet – “Count on Me!” series 4 of 5; “Who Can You Count On?” Mark 9:30-41

Sermon Texts: Mark 9:30-41

IN A NUTSHELL - The world uses status and power to qualify people as important and successful. But Jesus does not use the same criteria in order to define those upon whom you can count. Our text is a string of events and statements made by Jesus showing us His criteria for determining whom we can depend.  Those who see themselves as a servant, those that are willing to suffer for Him, those that value the helpless, and those that value others they don’t know, but are known by Jesus.  You can count on these!

ICE BREAKER –When you were in high school or college, how did coaches, teachers and the class leaders determine who was “important?” How have those individual’s lives developed down through the years?

CONNECTING TO THE TEXT

1. Keep in mind that this is the second time Jesus tells the 12 that he is going to suffer and die in Jerusalem.  Mk. 9:31; 8:31
2. How might the previous events of the Transfiguration and the demon possessed boy affected the course of events of the argument over who was greatest?  Mk9:2-31
3. If Mark 9:35 is the point of this text, then how does his illustration of the children make that point clear and emphatic?
4. How did the world view children in that culture?
5. If someone receives a child who ultimately are they receiving?
6. How does Jesus say we should view someone that is doing a work for Him, but we don’t know nor with whom we are familiar? Mk 9:38-41

REFLECTING UPON OUR LIVES

1. What characteristics or attitudes make you think that someone thinks too highly of themselves?
2. How would you feel if in one hour you revealed to your friends that your Doctor had said you would soon die and later that day your friends were arguing outside your hospital room over who was most influential and which one you regarded as most important?
3. How can a person’s attitude or reactions to children reveal hidden things about a person? (consider how God expects us to view the weak – How Does God (Should We) Regard Those that are Weak)
4. How might a person’s attitude toward others demonstrating authority reveal character issues?

CONNECTING WITH THE WAY WE DO CHURCH

1. Based upon today’s text who might be regarded as more dependable, someone that can preach a persuasive sermon, or someone that will listen and help a child that is in trouble?
2. Take note of someone in your CARE group and in our church that consistently seems willing to be last and send them a note saying thanks for being great!
3. When is the last time you helped to stack the chairs after service, or stayed behind to help clean the kitchen after a pot-luck?
4. Take into consideration how one might help the poor without giving them food, clothing or those things for which they ask.  The Poor Will Be Glad;   The Christian Standard on helping the poor.

NEXT WEEK – 1/29 “You Can Count on Me!”  14:27-42; 15:37-39; 16:1-8.  Peter James & John failed Jesus, Judas failed Jesus, the Roman government failed Jesus, but Jesus does not fail us! The Temple veil was torn, no one needed to worry about rolling away the stone.  Why do you think the Angel said “be sure to tell Peter?”

1/15 CARE Sheet – “Count on Me!” series 3 of 5; “Counting on People that Count Others” 3:13-19 & 6:1-13

Sermon Texts: Mark (especially 3:13-19 & 6:1-13)

IN A NUTSHELL – If you were Jesus and had established the foundations of a “New Kingdom,” which we read about in the gospel of Mark, what would you do next to assure its success? Would you write a business plan? Would you establish a home base building complex or a global headquarters?   Jesus poured himself into 12 men, especially 3 of them and promised the Holy Spirit to lead them once he was gone.  In short: “He Counted on People that Would Count Others!   The questions for us today is how did he do that? What did he expect? What resulted?    The answers in summary are: He prayed, asked a lot of questions,  gave assignments, corrected mistakes, celebrated victories, lost at least one, and won millions!

ICE BREAKER –Who would you suggest had the most influence in winning you to the Lord?  Who won them?  Or, which one of the Apostles do you relate with the most?   Consider this summary of the 12 made by SO4J: Twelve Disciples of Jesus

CONNECTING TO THE TEXT

1. If Jesus is one with the Father why did he need to pray before He chose the 12 apostles? (Lk 6:12-16)
2. What kind of questions did Jesus ask the disciples?
3. What kind of assignments did Jesus give his disciples?
4. Did Jesus ever get frustrated with his Disciples? (Mk 8:17-19; Mk 16:14)
5. What might be a good summary/definition of the discipleship process?
6. What did Jesus pray for about the disciples?  (Jn 17:9-20 – notice Jesus specifies praying for the disciples only and then for those that would be won by them.)
7. What did Jesus expect from his disciples? (Mk 8:34)
8. What did Jesus command his disciples to do?  (Mark 6:1-13; Lk 22:35-37; Mt. 28:19-20)

REFLECTING UPON OUR LIVES

1. Think back or ask questions: Who won you to Christ?  Who won them?  Who won them?
2. What if you won and discipled 10 people to Christ and at least one of them became a church planter that helped to win thousands?
3.  Which is better to baptize 1,000 or to disciple 10?
4. Have you ever felt like Jesus has “given you an assignment?”  What was it? and How did it work out? (Mk 6:6-7)
5. Have you ever felt like Jesus has confronted you “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mk 4:40)
6. When is the last time (specific circumstance) you felt you were growing in your faith and obedience? (Ac. 4:18-25)

  CONNECTING WITH THE WAY WE DO CHURCH

1. Within what format of “church” activity have you learned more about Jesus?
2. Assuming that Jesus has “sent us into the world,” what does your world look like (feel like) and how does TLC help you “reach out to those in your world?”

NEXT WEEK – “Who Can You Count On?”  Mark 9:30-41 (With the introduction of Jesus dying and raising again Jesus begins to confront common misunderstandings on “Who’s important?” the first are last, children are as important as adults to Jesus, any outsiders are insiders if they know Jesus.