January 25 – 31

Weekly Reading for January 25 – 31

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Empowered by His Presence
Sermon Title: Empowered by a Call and Mission

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on February 1, 2015:

• SUNDAY: Acts 9, Acts 26, Acts 9, Acts 26,
• MONDAY: Isaiah 6, Isaiah 6,
• TUESDAY: Genesis 12:1-9 , Genesis 17, Genesis 12:1-9 , Genesis 17,
• WEDNESDAY: Esther 2-4, Esther 2-4,
• THURSDAY: Luke 1:1-56, Luke 2:1-40, Luke 1:1-56, Luke 2:1-40,
• FRIDAY: Luke 19, Luke 19,
• SATURDAY: Matthew 28, Acts 1, Matthew 28, Acts 1,

Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Empowered by His Presence
Sermon Title: Empowered by Sabbath and Rest
Delivered On: January 25, 2015

WATCH SERMON VIDEO
VIEW WEEKLY BULLETIN
VIEW SERMON NOTES

Memorize and Reflect

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Prayer Direction

Ask God to help you humble yourself enough to rest. Pray for the empowering presence of Jesus to fill you as you learn to Sabbath, rest, and receive His gift of refreshment.

“Live It!” Challenge

Take a Rest: Do your best to develop a pattern of taking a Sabbath rest every week for one full month. Be sure to reflect on the six guiding ideas behind Sabbath that were discussed in the Sunday message.

Small Group Discussion

1. Tell about a time when your schedule was intensely full, the demands of your life were growing, and you found yourself not getting the rest, refreshment, and time for revitalization that you needed. How did the demands of this season of life and the lack of rest impact you in some of the different parts of your life (physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally)?

2. Watch: Session 3— "Empowered for the Journey by Receiving God’s Rest” on the Empowered DVD.
   What are some of the things that drive us to push ourselves to the point of exhaustion and refuse to find space for rest and refreshment?

3. In the DVD, Rick tells about a serious wake-up call that forced him to face his own limitations, mortality, and need to dial back and make space for rest and refreshment. Tell about a time when you faced the reality that you are not a machine and that you need to learn to unplug, breathe deep, slow down, and find the refreshment that God designed you to need. How did you adjust your lifestyle after this experience?

4. Read: Isaiah 30:15-18, Psalm 127:1-2, Exodus 20:8-11, and Matthew 11:28-30
   Why do you think God is so serious about his children learning to rest and find places of quiet and refreshment?

5. How is your spiritual life and intimacy with God impacted when you are driven, busy, and pushing past your normal limitations? What are some specific ways we can build a rhythm of rest and refreshment into our lives so we can connect with God deeply and consistently?

6. Read: Genesis 2:2-3
   God is all-powerful, he sustains the universe, and he never gets tired. Why do you think God took a Sabbath day of rest? If God rested as an example for his children, how do you think he feels when we resist taking a day off, slowing down, and enjoying the refreshment he offers?

7. Read: Mark 1:35
   Jesus made space to pull away from the demands of life and meet quietly with the Father. How does this become a model and example for us? What do you do, in the rhythm of your day and week, to make space to be quiet with God and receive his rest and empowerment?

8. Share a lesson of empowerment through rest and refreshment that you have learned through your reading of section three of the book or the Bible passages provided for your reading. Tell about one of the biblical stories that impacted you (God’s day off, Moses’ teaching on Sabbath, Israel’s struggle, Psalm 23, Elijah’s nap, and Jesus’ early mornings). How does this passage challenge you to develop disciplines?

9. What is one practical step you can take to build a rhythm of rest and Sabbath into your life and how can your group members pray for you and keep you accountable to live this out?
   For more small group resources visit KevinGHarney.com
   Discounted copies of Empowered by His Presence are available in the Shoreline Community Church Café.

10. Tell about a time when your schedule was intensely full, the demands of your life were growing, and you found yourself not getting the rest, refreshment, and time for revitalization that you needed. How did the demands of this season of life and the lack of rest impact you in some of the different parts of your life (physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally)?

11. Watch: Session 3— "Empowered for the Journey by Receiving God’s Rest” on the Empowered DVD.
    What are some of the things that drive us to push ourselves to the point of exhaustion and refuse to find space for rest and refreshment?

12. In the DVD, Rick tells about a serious wake-up call that forced him to face his own limitations, mortality, and need to dial back and make space for rest and refreshment. Tell about a time when you faced the reality that you are not a machine and that you need to learn to unplug, breathe deep, slow down, and find the refreshment that God designed you to need. How did you adjust your lifestyle after this experience?

13. Read: Isaiah 30:15-18, Psalm 127:1-2, Exodus 20:8-11, and Matthew 11:28-30
    Why do you think God is so serious about his children learning to rest and find places of quiet and refreshment?

14. How is your spiritual life and intimacy with God impacted when you are driven, busy, and pushing past your normal limitations? What are some specific ways we can build a rhythm of rest and refreshment into our lives so we can connect with God deeply and consistently?

15. Read: Genesis 2:2-3
    God is all-powerful, he sustains the universe, and he never gets tired. Why do you think God took a Sabbath day of rest? If God rested as an example for his children, how do you think he feels when we resist taking a day off, slowing down, and enjoying the refreshment he offers?

16. Read: Mark 1:35
    Jesus made space to pull away from the demands of life and meet quietly with the Father. How does this become a model and example for us? What do you do, in the rhythm of your day and week, to make space to be quiet with God and receive his rest and empowerment?

17. Share a lesson of empowerment through rest and refreshment that you have learned through your reading of section three of the book or the Bible passages provided for your reading. Tell about one of the biblical stories that impacted you (God’s day off, Moses’ teaching on Sabbath, Israel’s struggle, Psalm 23, Elijah’s nap, and Jesus’ early mornings). How does this passage challenge you to develop disciplines?

18. What is one practical step you can take to build a rhythm of rest and Sabbath into your life and how can your group members pray for you and keep you accountable to live this out?
    For more small group resources visit KevinGHarney.com
    Discounted copies of Empowered by His Presence are available in the Shoreline Community Church Café.