Original Recipe | Week 5
Week 5 Original Recipe
Generosity
Big Picture:
Being a follower of Jesus is marked by a loving heart that meets the needs of others.
Getting Started:
What is something you used to believe in but now you don’t? Why did you stop believing?
Was there ever a time that you knew the right thing to do but didn’t do it? What were the consequences?
Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important to who we are as followers of Christ?
Read John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you Love one another.”
John 13:35
Does this passage describe the church you grew up in or have attended in the past?
Imagine a world where people skeptical of what we believe…are envious of how well we treat each other and amazed at how well we treat them.
How would the world look if the original recipe of the church remained a place of loving one another as Christ loved us?
Who is “one another” described in this verse?
According to Jesus and the message this Sunday, who is our neighbor?
Read 1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other.
What does our love for others show to others?
Read 1 John 3:16-19
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:
How is love defined to us?
How is love defined by us?
How does love confirm our identity in Jesus?
Next Step:
How does this idea of being generous change for you this week?
What is something this week you can adjust or change to be more loving to all?
Original Recipe | Week 4
Week 4 Original Recipe
Don’t Be Gross
Big Idea:
This Ekklesia movement is defined by how we love through how we serve.
Overview:
The movement that Jesus began and the early church continued, much to the world's amazement, continues today. As amazing as that is, Jesus predicted it, he gave us the countercultural truths to keep it going and invited us to engage with the local church and join him by loving and serving others.
Getting Started:
What is one thing that you have seen, heard, or even participated in where you had that thought, “This will never last”?
Did it last, or were you correct, and it is gone now?
When Jesus began his ministry, it was seen as a cult birthed in the armpit of the Roman Empire, Nazareth.
Eventually, Jesus would be rejected by his own people and crucified.
After the resurrection of Jesus, the first-century church survived and thrived in the face of violent, organized, state-funded resistance.
Secular (Non-Christian) scholars studied this and are dumbfounded that this movement still exists today.
Read John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
How did Jesus raise the bar of what love should be with this?
Read 1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
What does this look like in the everyday life of a Jesus follower?
What does this look like in the cumulative body we call the Ekklesia that Jesus began?
How have these counterculture ideas reshaped the world's view of what it means to be a human being?
I Corinthians 12:14-16
For the body does not consist of one part, but of many So it is with Christ. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
DON’T BE GROSS, but if you were forced to remove a body part from yourself, what part would you choose and why?
What position do you believe is the least important position to serve in at church on Sunday?
If Jesus came to serve and not to be served and “saved people, serve people,” is it even possible to not be engaged with the Ekklesia and not serve the community?
If you are not serving on the weekend, why not?
The Church in America is Dying?
Agree or disagree?
Experts are saying this, and statistics are telling us that attendance is dropping across denominations.
Even if you do not believe it, you must admit that the church has lost some of its influence.
If nothing changes, how will this affect the next generation?
Read Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world.”
The movement is bigger than just the weekend services.
How can we shine throughout the week?
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Moving Forward:
Jesus said nothing can stop his movement.
He invites us to be part by taking his love and a servant’s heart, into the world.
What is one thing you can do this week to drive the movement forward and share Jesus’ love within your world?
Original Recipe | Week 3
Week 3 Original Recipe
Lost
Key Verses:
Luke 15:22-24
Overview:
We all have different adjectives that we use to describe people. Short, tall, fat, smart, not smart, rich, poor, republican, democrat, good, bad. Jesus had two adjectives that he used to describe people. Lost and found. These were important because they describe people’s relationship to God. Either connected or not. This was because Jesus realized, and we should too, that his mission and ours, was and still is to connect people to God. People who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus, and Jesus liked them. Because we are the body of Christ, the same should be true of us.
Getting Started:
What is the most expensive or important item you have ever lost? If that item is still missing, how do you feel when you think about that item? If you found the item, how did you feel when you recovered it?
When an item becomes lost, why does it become our priority and consume our time, thoughts, and energy?
Read Luke 15:1-2
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
What are the three adjectives that describe the people in this passage? (Sinners, Tax collectors, and Pharisees)
People who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus, and Jesus liked them.
Why was this counter to the culture and beliefs of the Pharisees?
Does that misinformation still exist among “religious” people?
Read Luke 15:3-7
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
What jumps out to you in this passage?
Read Luke 15:8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
What jumps out to you in this passage?
Read Luke 15:11-12
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
What do these two verses say about the relationship between the father and the son?
Why would the father let the son go?
Luke 15:13-19 Summary
The son left the family farm, went to the city, and blew all the wealth his dad had given him.
Son became so broke that he took the worst possible job for a Jewish person, and that was feeding pigs. Even worse, he ate the pig slop because he was hungry.
Realized his dad’s servants were better off than him and decided to go home and ask his dad if he could be a servant.
All the way home he prepared a speech to try to persuade his dad to let him work on the farm.
Read Luke 15:20-23
So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
What stands out to you in these verses?
What adjectives would you use to describe this son?
Read Luke 15:24
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
What are the adjectives the father used to describe his returning son?
These adjectives were not literal. The son was not dead, nor was the son lost. His father most likely knew exactly where his son was either because he had others watching or others kept telling him where his son was and what his son was doing.
What was dead and lost between the father and the son?
How does this parable explain how God sees people and how we should too?
Read Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Changing your mind.
The gravitational pull in churches sometimes is to focus on the ninety-nine and not the one.
Why is this not the proper focus and who should be our focus? Why?
People who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus, and Jesus liked them. Because we are the body of Christ the same should be true of us.
Original Recipe | Week 2
Week 2 Original Recipe
Don’t Settle for Christian
Intro:
Becoming a Christian is easy. It won't cost you anything. But Jesus never invited anyone to become a Christian. He invites us to follow.
Discussion Questions
1. Think of someone who seems "opposite" of you in a few ways.
This could be someone who looks or lives differently from you, or who has wronged you in some way.
Imagine doing something to bless or help that person.
What barriers arise in your mind?
For the next two questions, consider these two categories of believers:
Name someone you would consider an outstanding Jesus follower.
Why do you think so?
Just based on the above definitions, where would you put yourself on this scale?
Christian [———|———] Jesus Follower
Read Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
What stands out to you?
When it comes to being more proactive as a Jesus follower, what's next for you?
Who can you move toward, and what specific step can you take?
Changing Your Mind
The men and women who make a difference in the world are not the ones who believe what’s right. They are the men and women who act and react when something isn't right—even when it costs them.
Original Recipe | Week 1
Key Verses:
Matthew 16:15-18
Acts 2:44-45
Sermon Overview:
The original church began as a movement first mentioned by Jesus. A movement founded on one core belief that Jesus was the son of the living God, who died and rose from the dead to pay for our sins.
The original recipe of the church was these simple instructions, Love one another as I have loved you, and love others enough to tell them the good news that God loves them and Jesus died for them. So that is what they did, and they changed the world with an irresistible message. A method of love and grace never before seen by any religion or movement. They did not just do it for church people because, to be honest, there were no church people. There were just people who knew and those who did not. Wherever this movement saw a need, it met it. You and I are the results of their faithfulness to those simple instructions.
But somehow, along the way, the recipe was changed from the original. The church today is not known as a place of love or good news. The positive impact of the original church became skewed to more of a negative influence. Love and good news are not characteristics of the church that stands out to the everyday world.
In this series, we will look back to the original recipe of how a movement of people without “The Bible” without structure, driven by a simple desire to follow Jesus and did what he did for others, changed the world. Our goal is to reimplement the original recipe and once again change our world with the irresistible good news of Jesus.
Get Started:
When we think of church, why is a building the first thing that comes to mind?
Is church a place full of robes and pews?
Bands and banners?
Or is church meant to refer to something different?
Read Acts 1:8 Jesus is talking to the disciple and the others who he had revealed himself too after his resurrection …
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The mission Jesus gave his followers centered on the task of making other followers.
Many of these people were, in fact, eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus.
The Church began as a movement:
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of church?
What were your first/early experiences of attending church?
Were those positive or negative experiences in your faith journey?
Read Matthew 16:15-18
Then he said, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of death will not overcome it.”
In your words, how do you define church? What is the mission of the church?
Read Acts 2:22-24, 32-37 This is Peter speaking to the crowd after receiving the Holy Spirit
“People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. “Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off— for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
What is the thing that sticks out to you the most about church that first day?
If the church began as a movement, how do you see the church moving today?
If the church began as a movement, what can you do to be a part of that movement?
MOVING FORWARD
Church is much more than a building or a place. Church is more than pews or hymnals, lights, and music. In fact, on opening day, the church had no buildings or rituals, no bands, or robed choirs.
What it did have was a gathering of people who were intent on one thing: to create followers of Jesus Christ. In that sense, the church was a movement that continues today. A multiplying, multi-cultural gathering of people who believe that Jesus is the Savior and whose lives reflect his teaching.
No Offense | Week 5
When Forgiveness Seems Impossible
Getting Started:
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you needed to be rescued?
How did that make you feel?
Obviously, you were rescued. What emotions changed in the process?
Digging Deeper:
Read Colossians 1:13-14
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
What did Jesus have to do to rescue us from the dangers of hell and place us in the safety of his kingdom?
Read 1 John 1:9-10
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
God’s forgiveness is vital to our relationship with Him. How does that forgiveness change our lives?
Read Matthew 18:23-30
Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
What perspective does this Scripture give on forgiveness?
How easy or difficult is it for you to forgive?
How should God’s forgiveness affect our relationships with others?
How does our pride play a part in NOT forgiving others?
What is the impact on our own life when we refuse to forgive?
How do you think forgiving will impact other areas of your life?
NextStep:
Find peace this week by extending forgiveness to a person or situation. Lean into your Life Group for support during this time.
No Offense | Week 4
When Bitterness Takes Over
Getting Started:
On a scale of 1–10, how much do you enjoy gardening or yard work?
What is the most difficult task of gardening? Keeping the weeds out.
Read Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
All bitterness starts out as a hurt.
Why do you think Scripture compares bitterness to a root?
Is there someone in your life that you have determined isn’t worth the effort to be at peace with?
What are you basing this opinion on?
They hurt or wronged you too deeply?
You don’t value them enough to make an effort to repair the relationship?
Hatred and holiness cannot coexist in the same heart.
How can this affect our ability to live holy and pure lives and cause us to fall short of God’s grace?
Read Luke 6:27-28
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Read Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
What is grace?
What does grace have to do with forgiveness?
When we hold on to bitterness, we are not allowing ourselves to give grace to others. As hard as it sounds, this is being judgmental and saying that person does not deserve grace. No one, including us, deserves grace. That is why it is called grace. When we do not give grace, we do not get grace, and bitterness grows deeper. As we become bitter, everyone around us is affected by our bitter attitude.
Nothing healthy ever grows from the root of bitterness.
What can you do to let go of that bitterness and extend forgiveness instead?
NextStep
What would it look like to respond to offenses and bitterness with grace and forgiveness? If you’re having a difficult time extending forgiveness, start by remembering the grace Jesus freely gives you.
No Offense | Week 3
You’re Not as Right as You Think.
Getting Started:
What’s something you enjoy being right about?
Why is it so difficult to be wrong?
Digging Deeper
Read Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
What was the difference between these two men?
If we are honest, we share the characteristics of both men depending on our state of mind.
What personal outlook or attitudes causes us to waver between the two? Pride or Humility?
Why is it so easy to be judgmental verse compassionate?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
As a believer, do you believe your role is to be the guardian of truth?
Is it possible to change someone’s heart by the strength of your argument or opinion?
According to the message, why did sinful people love to be around Jesus?
Read John 13:35
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.
How do we love people that disagree with us?
When you live like you’re forgiven by God, you’ll feel more gratitude, become more accepting, and overflow with love.
NextStep:
How can you share that abundant love with others this week?
Decide to respond from a forgiven posture now, so that when disagreements, debates, or controversies come up this week, you’ve already committed to respond from a place of love.
No Offense | Week 2
Dealing with Those People
Key Verse:
Ephesians 4:29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Getting Started:
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Digging Deeper:
Read: Ephesians 4:26-27
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
There is no win in being offended.
How do you typically respond when you get angry or offended?
What did the speaker mean when he said, “Being offended is inevitable Living offended is a choice.”?
The day of your hurt should also be the day of your healing.
How can you begin healing on the same day of an offense?
How can living in anger and being offended hurt your closes relationships?
What are the three D’s of destruction—? Division, Distraction, or Discredit to your witness
We're not here to make a point; we're here to make a difference.
Read Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
What is unwholesome talk?
Would you say that there is more unwholesome talk or wholesome talk in the world today?
What are some ways to change your mind, heart, and mouth from unwholesome talk and begin building others up with your words instead?
Read Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate "to one another, forgiving each other, "just as in Christ God forgave you."
What could you do differently next time an offense occurs?
NextStep:
Pray Psalms 123:23-34
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Ask God to search your heart this week. He might reveal an area where you might be arrogant, judgmental, or self-deceived. If so, surrender that to Him and share what you learn with your LifeGroup.
No Offense | Week 1
Stop Being Offended
Getting Started:
On a scale of 1–10, how easy is it for you to be offended?
Dig Deeper
Read James 1:19-20.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Which do you struggle with the most: being quick to listen, slow to speak, or slow to become angry?
How do you typically let go of anger?
How effective is this?
Was there ever a time when you chose to make a difference instead of making a point?
What did you learn about Jesus through that experience?
Jesus never told us we must be right. But He did say, I want you to be loving.
Read Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Do you want to make a point, or do you want to make a difference?
What can you do to begin raising your gratitude for God’s grace?
How will this impact your relationship with God and others?
NextStep: Commit to a step and live it out this week.
Remember: Your anger will justify your right to hold the stone.
Practice being slow to anger this week by dropping the stone of offense and choosing to be loving instead.
Peeps | Week 4
Week Four: Peeps Discussion Guide
Series Overview:
In this series, we see different people encounter Jesus at their lowest point. All of them had chosen to follow Jesus and saw him killed. All that would change. Their greatest defeat would become their and our greatest victory. Their story is our story. Many people, one sweet Story.
Sermon Overview:
For those who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry, the toughest time of their lives was when they saw Jesus crucified and buried. With no idea of what would come next, they struggled. Little did they know that this was not the end but the middle of their story. Soon Jesus would rise from the grave, and hope would be restored not only for them but for all humanity. Our lives are of highs and lows. It’s in the in-between, those times we find ourselves stuck in the middle, stuck with worry, doubt, stress, and anger. Like those who followed Jesus early on, we must learn to hold on to Jesus in the middle, knowing hope is coming. Jesus has not left us but is working even when we can’t see him.
Getting Started:
1.We have all been stuck in the middle of life. How do people react when they are stuck in the middle of a crisis?
How does our reaction to situations reveal what we worry about?
Read Matthew 6:27-33
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2. What specifically sticks out to you in these verses?
3. What can affect our decisions when we are stuck in the middle?
4. How can we know that God’s promise is still at work in the pain?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:19a
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.
5. How do our mistakes affect our worth?
Read Luke 23:32, 39-43
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
6. Each thief had a choice to mock Jesus or believe in him. He still is in the middle for us.
Read Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
7. How does this verse encourage us no matter where we are in life?
NEXTSTEP:
Where are you in life? Are you stuck or content? No matter where we are at any time of our lives, the promises of Jesus to be fighting for us are true, even when we don’t see it happening.
Let go and lean into the confidence Jesus gives.
Peeps | Week 3
Week Three: Peeps Discussion Guide
Series Overview:
In this series, we see different people encounter Jesus at their lowest point. All of them had chosen to follow Jesus and saw him killed. All that would change. Their greatest defeat would become their and our greatest victory. Their story is our story. Many people, one sweet Story.
Sermon Overview:
Thomas was best known for doubting. Yet when you read about him throughout scripture, you discover that he was at times bold. He encouraged the others to follow Jesus into Dangerous situations. He boldly asked Jesus to explain what he meant when the others kept silent. Eventually, he felt let down and skeptical when the messiah he chose to follow was now dead. Thomas, his friend, didn’t give up on him and Jesus met him where he was, even in doubt, and gave him what he needed to be bold. In the end, most can relate more to Thomas than any other disciple, because his story mirrors our up and down story with Jesus.
Getting Started:
1.Have you ever had or known someone who had a nickname based on a mistake they have made?
Do you think it was fair for you or that person you know to be labeled by that mistake?
I don’t think anyone would want to be remembered only for their mistake, but in this week’s peep, we see Thomas labeled forever as the doubter.
Digging Deeper:
For the Peeps in this week’s part of the resurrection story, everything they had believed was being challenged.
Read John 11:16
Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
2. From the message, why were the disciples not wanting Jesus to go back to Jerusalem?
How did Thomas’ statement clearly state their concern and his courage?
What does “Faith without risk isn’t faith at all” mean?
3. When was the last time you or someone you know made a risky move, for Jesus' sake?
Read John 14:3-6
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
4. Have you ever heard anyone say you should never question God? What do you think that means?
5. The Pastor said, “Healthy relationships have Healthy questions.”
How did Thomas’s boldness to ask; help the other disciples?
Read Matthew 7:7
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Read James 1:5
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
6. How do these verses confirm that it is okay to ask God questions?
Read John 20:19-20 & 24
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
7. After the death and burial of Jesus, the others were hiding in fear, but Thomas was not with them.
8. Where was Thomas? Why was he not with the others?
Although we don’t know for sure but given from what we have learned about his personality
Either he was disappointed or had just given up to the fact that eventually all the disciples would die and that there was no need to hide.
Or perhaps he had wanted to grieve alone and figure out what had taken place.
Obviously, he had concluded that he had made a mistake to follow Jesus, and now his life was over.
Read John 20:25
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
9. Why would Thomas make such a firm statement to the others? How did this reflect the conflict going on in his heart?
Has there ever been a time when you struggled in your faith?
Read John 20:26-28
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
10. After Thomas so brutally rejected the resurrection of Jesus, why did the other disciple still allow him to be with them?
11. How does Jesus show here that he didn’t give up on Thomas either? How does it show that he won’t give up on us?
NEXTSTEP:
We are called to continue relationships with those who have lost their faith or never had one. Just as Jesus didn’t give up on Thomas, we don’t give up on others. Instead, we love them through the crises until Jesus shows up and does work in their heart.
Who is the person that never gave up on you? Have you ever told them Thank You? Contact them this week and thank them for their faithfulness to you and for the difference they made in your life.
Who are you being faithful to? Who is the person within your circle of influence that needs you to stand beside them until Jesus shows up to do his work?
Easter Sunday is next week, and more people are open to going to church than any other time of the year.
Invite the person you are investing in to join you for one of the three services.
Peeps | Week 2
Week Two: Peeps Discussion Guide
Series Overview:
In this series, we see different people encounter Jesus at their lowest point. All of them had chosen to follow Jesus and saw him killed. All that would change. Their greatest defeat would become their and our greatest victory. Their story is our story. Many people, one sweet Story.
Sermon Overview:
The first time Mary Magdalene showed up in the scripture, she needed an exorcism because she was full of demons. The last time she shows up speaking with an Angel at an empty tomb. Now she is the first to proclaim that Jesus is Alive! From the demons to the angels-- that's Mary's story.
Getting Started:
When it comes to the resurrection, the debate is just as polarizing.
Why is the resurrection so important to believers?
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:13-14
For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
Digging Deeper:
Read Luke 8:1-3
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Explain:
Mary Magdalene’s faithfulness was a product of her life-changing encounter with Jesus.
A wealthy socialite woman from the providence of Magdala had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus.
She had followed Jesus just like the other disciples supporting his ministry behind the scenes.
1. When you think of a demon-possessed person, what image comes to mind?
2. As a wealthy, successful woman, what demons do you believe controlled Mary prior to her encounter with Jesus?
Mary’s gratitude to Jesus showed in her willingness to sacrifice everything and follow Jesus.
3. What have you had to give up or been delivered from to follow Jesus?
4. How does that reflect in your attitude towards Jesus?
Mary remained faithful even when all seemed lost. She had the courage to be at the cross even though she may have been arrested herself.
5. What drives you to serve and follow Jesus?
6. Has a difficult time ever challenged you to stay faithful?
7. What made you stay or come back?
Read John 20:11-16
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”
Mary’s gratitude and passion drove her to serve Jesus, which went even beyond his death. This led to her being the first one to see Jesus resurrected and the first to tell others.
Mary proclaimed Jesus as “My Lord”.
Who is Jesus to you?
It is the most important question you will ever answer.
Peeps | Week 1
Week One: Peeps Discussion Guide
Series Overview:
In this series, we see different people encounter Jesus at their lowest point. All of them had chosen to follow Jesus and saw him killed. All that would change. Their greatest defeat would become their and our greatest victory. Their story is our story. Many people, one sweet Story.
Sermon Overview:
Two Pharisees reluctantly followed Jesus at a distance. They knew he was from God and knew his teachings were different and better. Eventually, they would have to make a stand and because they did, Nick and Joe saved Easter.
Getting Started:
There are two sides to this debate, with no grey area in between.
Do you love or loath peeps marshmallow treats?
When it comes to the resurrection, the debate is just as polarizing.
Why is the resurrection so important to believers?
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:13-14
For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
Digging Deeper:
For the Peeps in this week’s part of the resurrection story, everything they had believed was being challenged.
Read John 3:1-2
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 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.”
Nicodemus and Joseph were both Pharisees that had heard Jesus' teaching and seen him doing miracles.
They didn’t just discard him but became curious about him, so Nicodemus, representing the few who did not discard Jesus, went to talk to Jesus to gain more understanding.
Of course, Nick went at night, so the other Pharisees did not see him talking to Jesus.
Read John 3:3-6
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “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!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
2. How did Jesus’ answer challenge Nick’s life?
The Pharisees believed that the way to go to heaven was by keeping the rules and doing what was right. If you did more good than bad, then you got to go to heaven.
The Pharisees actually believed they were perfect at being good.
3. Does this false idea of how to get to heaven still exist in the church and/or the worldview today?
4. Has there ever been a time when what you believed was challenged, and you had to change the way you think?
Read Luke 23:50-51
Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.
5. The decision and deed Joseph did not agree to was the crucifixion of Jesus.
Less is known about why and how Joseph came to follow Jesus secretly.
He is recorded in all 4 gospels…
He is mentioned in 34 verses in the Bible.
He and Nicodemus shared their passion for Jesus.
Read John 19:38-39
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night.
6. From the message, what do you remember was the usual practice for discarding the bodies of those crucified?
7. Why was it so unusual that Joseph went straight to Pilate to ask for the body, and how did this move Nick and Joe from secret followers to public followers of Jesus?
8. What did Joseph, Nicodemus, and the rest of the world believe would happen now that Jesus was dead?
Read John 19:39-40
Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
9. Why was this Jewish burial custom important to the truth of the resurrection?
10. How did Nick and Joe, by their faith, save Easter?
NEXTSTEP:
Read John 3:13-16
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. 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.
What are you counting on to get you to heaven? Does it match up with the truth that Jesus gave Nicodemus about going to heaven?
He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands | Week 3
Sermon Title: Hope
Sermon Overview
How are we supposed to remain hopeful in a hopelessly broken world? We want to be hopeful, but when relationships sour, stock prices tumble, dreams disappear, and plans crumble, hope can be hard to come by. In a world without guarantees, hope can be a dangerous thing. But what if the tension we feel is the result of putting our hope in the wrong things? What if God has a different plan for us—a plan built on his unfailing love?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The Pastor defines hope as a person or thing in which our expectations are centered. With that in mind, in whom or what do you most frequently hope?
2. In what kinds of things or people do you see your friends and family placing their expectations?
3. Share about a time when you put your hope in something or someone and came away disappointed.
Read Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope.
4. How does this verse support the idea of sin as a disease and not an event?
5. Why does this matter in the context of finding and maintaining hope?
Read Romans 8:26-30
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
6. What phrases or concepts in this passage engender hope within you?
Read Romans 8:33-39
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul provides a long list of circumstances, culminating with “nor anything else in all creation” that shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
7. If you were to write your own list of circumstances, powers, or feelings that will not separate you from the love of God, what would be on that list?
MOVING FORWARD
Hope. It only works when the object of our hope is certain, when it is consistent, when it will not fail. God has offered us such an unfailing object: his love. As evidenced in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, God has shown that his love is truly without fail. So, although this world will remain broken due to the disease of sin, you can confidently hope without reservation—if you will transfer all of your hope onto God’s unfailing love.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read Psalm 33:22
“May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.”
He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands | Week 2
Sermon Title: Pray Until the Peace Comes
Sermon Overview:
In the previous session, we said that God is at work even in uncertain times. It is good to know that he is working, but what should we be doing? How should we live in the midst of uncertainty? How can we keep from being overwhelmed by the fears and insecurities that often go hand in hand with uncertainty? God has a plan, and his plan is to replace our anxieties with peace.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Share about a time when uncertainty created an increased interest in spiritual things for you or a friend.
Read Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2. Why are Paul’s circumstances (in jail awaiting trial) crucial to the credibility of this passage?
Read Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
3. What are some things that you are more likely to rejoice in other than “in the Lord”?
4. Why, in the midst of this passage on uncertainty, does Paul exhort us to “let our gentleness be evident to all”?
Paul’s use of the word “present” in verse six means “to reveal.” Think about your recent prayers.
5. What underlying, deeper needs are revealed by your prayer requests?
6. Complete the following sentences: Heavenly Father, I need __________. If you don’t, I’m afraid that __________.
MOVING FORWARD
In the midst of our uncertainty, God offers us peace—a peace that replaces anxiety, fear, and insecurity. All you have to do is give up your illusion of control and embrace the reality of your dependence upon God. You do this by going to God in prayer with your deepest needs, hopes, and fears.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands | Week 1
Sermon Title: Nothing New
Sermon Overview:
As a society, we live in a world of uncertainty. Uncertain social conditions. Uncertain economic times. Uncertain global developments. Yet uncertainty is nothing new. The characters in the Bible experienced wildly fluctuating levels of uncertainty . . . often feeling as if life was moving backward, getting worse.
The questions remain the same.
Where’s God?
Is he going to show up?
Is he still in control?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What has been the brightest moment in your life? What has been the darkest moment in your life?
Does God become bigger during brighter or darker moments in your life? How does your relationship with God change during certain/uncertain times?
Read Mark 14:17-26
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
3. What were some of the different emotions that the disciples might have been experiencing while at dinner?
4. How would you have responded to Jesus’ statements if you were present?
5. What other passages from the Bible depict uncertain times for the characters involved?
6. What does it mean to say that “God is active” or that “God is at work”?
7. How can God still be active when there is no evidence of his activity?
8. How does it help to know that God still has the whole world in his hands when you travel through a dark season of uncertainty?
MOVING FORWARD
Some of the brightest moments in our lives are the result of brokenness. When we can see that God is working through undesirable circumstances—even the ones we bring on ourselves—there is a sense of purpose and peace that emerges. Knowing that God is still active during uncertain times allows us to maintain hope and faith and keeps us from despair. We can rest knowing that God has not abandoned us and that he is still in control.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Read Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Staying in Love | Week 4
Staying in Love #4: Multiple Choice Marriage
INTRODUCTION
1 Corinthians 13 is a popular passage from the Bible that many couples include in their wedding ceremonies. Its description of love is inspiring. Yet, upon further examination, you’ll also find specific instructions that, when applied, will result in long-lasting, love-filled relationships.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is the best piece of advice you’ve heard about making a relationship last?
2. What has been the most impactful piece of advice from “Staying in Love” that you can apply to a current relationship (or a future relationship)?
3. Do you have high expectations in your relationships, or do you expect very little from those around you? Explain.
4. When there is a gap between what you expect from people and what they actually do, do you fill that gap by “believing the best” or “assuming the worst”? Give an example.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, the apostle Paul defines love with multiple descriptors.
5. Which descriptors of loving come easy to you? Which aspects of loving do you find difficult?
6. What specific steps can you take this week to fill the gaps in your relationships by choosing to trust and believing the best?
MOVING FORWARD
Gaps occur all the time in relationships. There are gaps between what we expect from others and what they actually do. And in response, we can choose to trust and believe the best, or we can choose the opposite and fill those gaps with negative assumptions. Or, as it says in 1 Corinthians 13, we can choose to protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Relationships will grow or fade depending on what you choose to place in those gaps.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
It (love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7
Staying in Love | Week 3
Staying in Love #3: Feelin’ It
INTRODUCTION
How can two people stand at an altar and swear they will love each other until “death do us part” and then just a few years later hate each other more than they have ever hated anyone? How can the person to whom she gave her deepest vow become the person she despises most? In this message, we provided insight on how to not only fall in love, but also to stay in love.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
We all bring emotional “baggage” into our romantic relationships.
1. What are some reasons romantic relationships reveal this baggage more than any other kind of relationship?
2. Our ‘baggage’ frequently results from family or romantic relationships. What are some specific experiences that have most contributed to your baggage?
Read Proverbs 4:23.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
In this verse, Solomon, famous for his wisdom, says to guard your heart above all else.
3. Do you agree with Solomon? Even if you disagree, can you think of some reasons why Solomon would place such value on guarding your heart?
4. Your ability to feel certain things is determined by the condition of your heart.
Why is this more important than your partner’s behavior?
How does the second half of Proverbs 4:23 support this assertion?
5. Unspoken emotions have a great deal of power over us. Why does verbalizing a specific emotion take away that power?
6. Oftentimes, we feel defensive when our partners come to us and say, “When you do ________, I feel _________.”
7. There are no bad feelings; when we share feelings, we are providing an observation, not a criticism.
What should be our response to this type of observation?
Why is this so difficult to do?
MOVING FORWARD
What’s inside of you is coming out. And it’s not coming out because of whom you are with, but because it was in you to begin with. If you want to stay in love, you must pay attention to what is in there, so that you can own it. You must have a plan to guard your heart—a plan that begins with thinking about and identifying specific emotions, then communicating them. Will you commit to this plan?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Staying in Love | Week 2
Staying in Love #2: Re-Modeling
INTRODUCTION
While it is easier than ever to fall in love, it is harder than ever to stay in love. And no one wants to fall in love and just endure. We want to stay in love. Is this even possible? If so, what should our plan be? In this message, Andy answers both of these questions by sharing a blueprint for enduring love.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
How did you interact with that person?
2. What is your most valued material possession?
Describe this possession and how you treat it.
3. Read Philippians 2:3-4.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
4. What are some things you can do this week to “value others above yourselves?”
Specifically, how can you apply this idea to someone you love?
Read Philippians 2:5-7.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.
5. Describe a time when you saw someone with position or power choose to serve rather than to leverage that position or status for his own benefit?
How did you feel when you saw that?
Were you surprised by his actions?
We can't have it both ways.
We all must face the dilemma between choosing what we deserve or choosing submission.
6. What does he mean by this? Why can't we have it both ways?
7. In what ways can you choose to submit to the person you love this week?
MOVING FORWARD
To stay in love, you have to choose to love each other how Christ loved us. In other words, you have to choose to treat the person you love as the most important person in the world to you. You must be willing to put them first. What is keeping you from this? Is it worth missing out on the love relationship that God designed for you?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7