The Story Chapter 21 (Nehemiah/Malachi)

Text: Nehemiah 1(1:1-4), 2 (2:11)  and entire book
         Malachi 1:6-14

Link: The Story Pt. 21

Main Point: Christians are to be agents of change

Lessons from Nehemiah:

- Broken hearts lead to action (Neh. 1:4)

- Prayer is key (Neh. 1:4)
   - Nehemiah provides an example of someone living in tune with the Spirit

- Take Account (Neh. 1:3, 2:11)

- Develop a Plan of Action
  - When the king asked he was ready
  - Neh. 3 (Community is key...the wall was rebuilt through the efforts of community)
  - Role with the changes
  - Adjust as needed (When opposition arose he adjusted his plan)
  - Don't let your enemy distract you
  - Pray

- Transformation (Malachi 1:6-14)

Application:

- Are our hearts broken?

- Who are you praying for?
  - Write down 2-3 people who your heart breaks for....that live in a world with no walls...who you do not want to enter into eternity without and cry out for them

- What is the culture/world we live in? (Note: I am indebted to Ravi Zacharias for this portion)
   - 50 years ago the world seemed large
   - now there are no walls
   - secularization, pluralization, privatization has given us a world that has no shame, no reason, and no meaning
   - To be agents of transformation we need to show where the walls are

- Plan of Action?
   - How do you connect the dots to the tough questions of life? (e.g. Problem of evil? Purpose of life?)
   - Need to show the boundaries/walls were:
         - Shame must be felt
         - Reasonableness of belief in God
         - The meaning it brings when all the dots are connected

- Does your private and public life add up?
    - Your private life finds value and meaning lived out publicly (e.g. my marriage vows are of little value if I do not live them out publicly)

- Are you an agent of transformation?

Take a look at the following picture and ask the application questions about these individuals...you could probably answer yes to most of them, but I am not convinced that they are agents of transformation...I am not asking us to do this, but rather that we live our lives in such a way that our lives are the sign that draws people into a relationship with Jesus...

Guest Preacher Eric Hesse Lessons on Living a Sent Life

Guest Preacher: Eric Hesse

Title: Lessons on Living a Sent Life

Texts: Matthew 4:12-17; Psalm 139

Link to Sermon: Title: Lessons on Living a Sent Life

Big Idea

–      We must live sent because it’s not readily apparent to people that Jesus is the light of spiritual life

Main Points

1. Like Jesus, we must intentionally flow to places of darkness in order to shine His light (Matthew 4:12-17)
2. God will go before you and lead you with his sustaining presence when you follow him into the darkness (Psalm 139)

Application questions:

1.     Tell of a time when the power failed and you had to function without any light. What was that experience like?

2.     How does it make you feel to hear that God knows everything about you (the good, the bad, the ugly), yet doesn’t reject you but wants to lead and guide you?

3.     Where are the places of injustice and brokenness around you? Where can you find people desperate for good news? Where are the hopeless, harassed, helpless, and oppressed in our community?

4.     What must change in your family or church rhythm/schedule in order for you to shine the love of Christ in a place of need?

The Story Chapter 20 (Esther)

Text: Esther 6:1-9

Link to sermon: The Story Pt. 20

Note: Some of the thoughts/ideas came out of the Verge 14 Conference, but I cannot remember who they came from.

Opening Discussion Questions:

- Who is this part of the Story (Book of Esther) about?
    Ultimately God, but He isn't mentioned in the book.  You definitely see His hand behind the scenes, but no direct mention.  The book is titled Esther, but I would argue that if you look at how it ends it is Mordecai.

- What was the main point from The Story Chapter 19?
   Christians have been redeemed to bless

Main Point: Faith is demonstrated in obedience and provides a stark contrast to the world

The world says: "You do to be and create your value/identity" (Verge 14)

Christians know whose they are and their actions flow out of their value/identity

The stark contrast between:

Mordecai & Haman

Mordecai understands he is redeemed and part of the covenant community and therefore was a blessing to:
(Note: Mordecai is living the way the people of the Covenant are supposed to)

- Esther (family) by adopting her and raising her.
- Israel
- The nations (Abraham when called was to be a blessing to the nations).  Helps thwart the plot to kill the king, becomes 2nd in command of the kingdom

Haman is a descendant of King Agag. King Saul's failure to be obedient now sets the stage for Agag's descendant to potentially wipe out the nation of Israel.  Also, in contrast he raises himself up and tries to create his value and fails to be a blessing.

Esther & Vashti

Vashti is invited into the kings presence, refuses to come and in the end is rejected

Esther is not invited, prays, calls a fast, enters into the kings presence in faith and is accepted.

Esther is adopted and reflects her adopted father

Application: Does our heart/actions reflect our adopted Father's?  Do our hearts break for the lost?  Do our lives provide a stark contrast to the world around us?

We are redeemed to be a blessing.  Our faith is to be lived out in such a way that our lives provide stark contrast to the world (see Isaiah 58:5-11).  Our identity flows from whose we are and our faith is demonstrated in obedience to our disciple making mandate.

Six Key Words to use as we disciple people (Verge 14):

The key words are to be triggers that lead to the questions:

You?                  How are you doing?

Celebrate?         What are you celebrating?

Challenges?       What challenges are you facing?

Doing?               What are you doing about those challenges?

Help?                 How can I help?

Pray?                 How can I pray for you?