Peninsula Covenant Church
Message Title: The Communal Leading of the Faith Community
Date: June 28, 2020
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When it comes to trying to hear God's voice, do you think God still speaks?
Four-Fold Leading of Jesus: If you want God to speak to your life, process these leadings and just wait, watch, and see how God speaks because God is always speaking -- Are we listening?
DISCUSSION QUESTION
How would you rate yourself when it comes to listening to God?
The Communal Leading of Our Faith Community
Context: 1 Kings 12
King Rehoboam has 3 days to make a decision about Jeroboam and his request.
As you look at your life, who are you listening to?
The people you listen to determine the future you.
Genesis 2:18 NIV
Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV
Acts 2:42 NIV
Hebrews 3:13 NIV
The Rest of the Story
Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 1 Kings 12:12-14
For us: Is this decision consistent with wise, godly counsel?
Do you believe it?
The people you listen to determine who you become.
PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!
Beyond Sunday
Discovering God's plan for our lives can be frustrating, but it doesn't have to be. As your Father, God wants you to know His will for your life. This week, we continue our Imagine series by focusing on the communal leadings of those around us.
1. Who has spoken into your life regarding a major life decision? Back then or even now, did you attribute those words as the leading of God in your life?
2. If God speaks and leads us through others, how would you describe your ability to listen to others? [ignorant, unwilling, distracted, willing]
3. Read 1 Kings 12:1-20. What stands out to you in this story? How does it relate to Proverbs 13:20? How have you seen this play out in your life or the life of another?
4. Based on Gary’s main point: The people you listen to determine the future you. Reflect on your life, who are the top five people you consult for your life decisions?
5. In order to hear the communal leadings of God we need to be in community. To what degree are you engaged in Christian community? Who really knows the challenges or decisions you are facing? Do you typically include them in the process or inform them after you have made the decision? What holds you back from letting others in? What has helped you to do so?
6. Which of these passages is most motivating to you to be in community? And why? Genesis 2:18, Ecclessiates 4:9, Acts 2:42, Hebrews 3:13. What is your next step to live into one of these passages more?
Prayer
Lord, give me a willingness to share my life and hear from others so that You can lead me?
Resources (links following)
---Join a Summer Online Growth Group
---Get a Coach/Mentor
---Serve on a Covid Care Team
5 more thoughts on Community
--Community is encouraging: What it comes down to is lifting each other up, learning from one another, and being the friend each of us needs (Galatians6:2, Hebrews 10:24-25)
--Community is fun: Our culture can sometimes portray Christians as a pretty boring bunch. But that couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be further from the truth! Believers can be goofy, witty and just really fun to be around. Yes, community has a higher purpose. But it should also be enjoyable! (Psalm 133:1)
--Community Attracts the Holy Spirit: The Bible says the Holy Spirit is present whenever believers gather together (Matthew 18:20). A great example of this was the early church of Acts, which made a habit of meeting together, eating together, and worshiping together. As a result, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46–47).
--Community Fosters Love: Being in community is God’s love laboratory where we a shaped in Christlike character. Paul held love as the premiere attribute in his letter to the Colossians: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:13–14 NIV).
--Community is life-giving—and essential to following Christ. Scripture says that’s because we’re better together than we are alone (Romans 12:4–5).
For PCC's Fiscal Year:
June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020:
Giving Update
Goal: $3,705,000
Giving to Date: $4,410,549
Surplus: $705,549