November 11, 2007

 

K.I.S.S. Week 2

Believe

 

Worship through Song

 

Offering

I Believe

Fantasia Barrino

 

Video

Where, What, Who

 

Simple Instructions for Life, Part 2

 

Message:  Believe

Pastor Scott

 

Prayer

 

Church Family News

 

Any musical selections and/or media elements used in our services are for illustrative purposes only and are not an endorsement of any artist, musical group, film or television program.

 

The Second Invitation . . . Believe

 

John 6:66-69(TNIV)

    66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

    67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

    68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."

 

        Faith is  ___________________(a).

 

Hebrews 11:1-3(TNIV)

      1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

    3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

 

Why is Faith Important to God?

 

        Belief enables us to fully   ______________(b).

 

John 3:1-8(TNIV)

     1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 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."

    3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again."

    4 "How can anyone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!"

    5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

 

        Faith is the God word for  ___________________(c).

 

Luke 16:19-31(TNIV)

     19There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

    22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”

    25But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

    27He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

    29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.”

    30“No, father Abraham,” he said, “but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”

    31He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

 

        He reveals Himself through _____________________(d) lives.

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-12(TNIV)

     3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  5For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

    7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 

Conversations:

1.  What is one miracle that if it happened, would increase your faith?  Why?

2.  Which of the five senses do you operate in the best?

3.  Which of the five senses are you weakest in?

4.  Give an example of a Christ Follower that has had a positive impact on your life because of their own personal transformation.

5.  In what ways do you suppose a person’s belief in God helps them live life more fully?

6.  Name an example from the Bible where God proved Himself and people still didn’t believe.

7.  What is the greatest barrier to your believing at a deeper level?

 

Next steps in following for those who are:

Exploring Faith:

        Prayer

        Bible reading

        Weekend services

        Connection with other Christ followers

 

Christ Followers:

        Bible reading

        Prayer

        Small group opportunities

        Serving opportunities

 

Sources: 

Joel Osteen, Wayne Cordiero, Andy Stanley, Erwin McManus, and quoted individuals

 

Recommended resources available in the CCM Bookstore:

Believing God  by Beth Moore; Fresh Faith  by Jim Cymbala

 

Today’s message is available in the bookstore on CD or DVD. Streaming audio and videos of today’s message are also available on our website:  ccmonline.org.

 

 

Answers:

a. nonsense   b. live   c. trust   d.  transformed