Week #83 it starts with ONE (Week 1)

It Starts With One Series Promo from Seacoast Church on Vimeo.



The goal of this week is to understand the mission Jesus left for the Church and what this looks like for us today.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+READ Acts 1:1-11
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summarize the events that occur in this passage.

How do you imagine the disciples were thinking and feeling after these events?

Do you ever relate to this in your own relationship with God?


+READ Acts 1:8 & Matt. 28:19-20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8


19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matt. 28:19-20

---------------------------------------------------------------------------


What mission did Jesus leave with his disciples?

What is your reaction when you hear what Jesus said is the mission for His Church? Are you excited? Fearful? Why?

Would someone observing your life know that this is your mission? Why or why not?


Challenge for the Week:
What is one thing you can do this week to obey Jesus’ final command to his disciples?

Week #81 Peace on Earth...

I read these verses this morning and they filled me with mixed emotions (which I will explain in a comment later)...read them for yourself and let us know how they make you feel...good or bad.

-------------------------------
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come
to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her
mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a
man's enemies will be the members of his own household.
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not
worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than
me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his
cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:34-38
-------------------------------
Are these verses shocking, scary, something you already knew...? Is this something you struggle with? Please share :)

#78 Just a Little Bit More

This post is coming from the One Year Mini Devotional for Students book I have. Check it out...
--------------------------

Can I find contentment?

GOD'S RESPONSE
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
Philippians 4:11-12

Contentment is among life's most elusive qualities. The answer to "How much is enough?" always seems to be, "Just a little bit more." The key to Paul's contentment was that he was grateful for everything God had given him rather than envious of what he didn't have. Contentment begins with realizing that we aren't dependent on how much we own. When we realize that there is more to life than accumulating things, everything takes on a new value. Knowing that Jesus gives you strength and help for every situation you face gives you freedom from having to find your security in possessions.

THIS IS PROMISING
I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Week #77 I Need a Job...

These days, there are a lot of people saying, "I need a job." There are some who simply can't find a job and there are a lot of us that have jobs but want new ones. While thinking about this, I began thinking about my talents and my interests and how many people have jobs where they are unable to use their God given talents the way they should be and how many people are working jobs that they have no interest in. Too many of us have simply taken jobs for paychecks and not gone after jobs that we were called to do.

Obviously in today's world, we have to work and we have to make money some way to survive. The world's economy today does not help matters much when it comes to being picky about the type of job you have either. Bare with me as I try to throw some Jesus on the points I'm trying to make...

One of the toughest questions you can ask someone is...What do you want to do with your life? With all the different career options out there, how do you narrow down your search? To start off, you have to take a look at the things you are good at. Maybe you are good with numbers or maybe you have a special bond with kids. It will be very hard to find a job that will allow you to use all of your talents and abilities, but through prayer and some soul searching, hopefully you will be able to find a career that you will be good at and a career that you will enjoy doing.

I know things don't always work out this way (personal experience). Sometimes you have to take a job out of necessity. When this happens you have to trust that God will make use of your time at that job and will allow you to use the skills you acquire there in your future. We have to remember that God is not into wasting His time or ours. Our lives here are too short. He has a purpose for each of us and we have to trust that He knows what is best for us and will help get us where He wants us. He just asks that we do the best that we can with the jobs that He gives us and He will do the rest.

So Potiphar arrested Joseph and put him into the prison....But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness. The Lord caused the prison warden to like Joseph. The prison warden chose Joseph to take care of all the prisoners. He was responsible for whatever was done in the prison. The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's care. This was because the Lord was with Joseph. The Lord made Joseph successful in everything he did.
Genesis 39:20-23