The Pursuit-“Personal Transformation” 11/02/10

This is a manuscript of our upcoming large group meeting

Welcome (1min)

We are glad that you have come to Challenge. We will be doing things a little different tonight. We will be continuing with our series the Pursuit and tonight our topic is Personal transformation. My name is Tim and this is Leondra. Tonight, we will take a journey of worship together through some songs and God’s Word and see what they all have to say about Personal Transformation.

I. Recap of past weeks:(2min)

a. Explored God pursuing us w/ Julie and how he seeks out the lost

b. Pursuing God’s Word w/ Suraj-discovering the transforming power of God’s Word and how it has the ability to cut deep into our souls to change our lives

c. With Katy and our summer missionaries we discovered God’s love for us in His heart for the nations.

d. With Alex we saw God as story teller and how He desires for us to be a part of His story

e. Then we learned how God is an integral part of shaping our own stories.

II. Worship and Proclamation through Music(1min)

a. One way that we express our story is through music. When we sing songs we don’t just put words to notes. Songs carry emotion a passion that comes from inside. So tonight when we sing these songs I ask you to really think about the words we are singing. Don’t let the story pass you by, get caught up in it. Become a part of it.

III. Our Great God

IV. For the Glory of it All

Our Great God Loves Us(6 min)

V. God, the creator of the universe. Existed before time began. He is here for us. God loves us. He loved us before we ever were.

VI. John 15:16 You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

VII. 1 John 4:9-10 God showed us how much He loved us by sending us into the World so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love, it is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

a. He longs for us to go to Him in times of need.

VIII. 1 Peter 5:7 Turn all your anxiety over to God, because He cares for you.

a. God loves us so much that even while we were in opposition towards God He gave his life for us. We who have done devastating things to one another, lying, cheating, gossiping. We who have even at times done things we know to be harmful to ourselves. When we didn't even love ourselves God did.

IX. Romans 5:8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinner.

b. God loves us. He wants to give us the best. He wants us to want the best for ourselves. He loved us so much and cares for us so much that He came to show us that there was a better way of living. He wanted to show us that He has a plan for us.

X. Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you, says the Lord, I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land.

a. God isn't making this hard for us He is making a declaration that He wants to help us. He wants us to walk through life with Him. He is telling us that He knows that at times we fail. He knows that we grow tired and weary but He is strong. He has paid the price for sins. He wants to lead us out of the kingdom of dark and into the kingdom of light. He wants us to become a new creation. A creation that is not prey to our old vices. He wants us to know that through His power we can be made new.

XI. Glory Revealed (3:34) or Because of Your Love

XII. Completely Done (5:15)

(Half hour mark)

God's Gift of Freedom (10min)

a. God has given us a gift. This is a gift that is only found in relationship with Jesus Christ. In this relationship with Jesus through the sacrifice He has made on our behalf we find healing, hope, peace. In Christ we have freedom.

XIII. 1 Peter 2:24 He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by His wounds.

XIV. Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

XV. Colossians 3:1-10 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ who is your real life is revealed, to the whole world, you will share in all His

glory. So put to death, the sinful earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature in you.

a. If you have a relationship with Jesus, you said that you recognized that you in yourself were incapable of living a good life. You admitted that you in yourself don't have the strength to make the decisions and persevere through tough times. You said that you don't have all the answers. When you said that, you also said that Jesus is all. You confessed that Jesus has the answers. You said that Jesus has the strength to make you new. You said that you are no longer held captive by your old destructive nature and now by the power of Christ working in your life you have been made free.

b. The moment we were freed from captivity we allied ourselves with Christ and made our old nature and the spiritual forces of darkness our enemy. We are at war.

XVI. Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

XVII. 1 Peter 5:8 Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

a. We are in the middle of a pitched battle and our enemy is great...but Our God is Greater(Might to Save)

XVIII. Mighty to Save or Our God

Suffering has a Purpose (10min)

a. We have God on our side. Jesus, our mighty warrior. Our Savior. We should seek to follow in the footsteps of He who is mighty to save.

XIX. 1 Peter 4:1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.

XX. 1 Peter 4: 12 Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

a. If we are followers of Christ we need to reframe the way we think about suffering. We should not be surprised that we encounter trials. We should expect them to come. Enduring through suffering as a Christian is a necessary process of rebirth.

XXI. Matthew 24:8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

XXII. James 5:11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for He is full of tenderness and mercy.

XXIII. 2 Corinthians 5:17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life is begun!

a. Before Christ you were dead. When Christ came he breathed life into you. Returning to the old life we had before Christ is like a new born baby trying to crawl back into the womb. We are choosing not to live when we return to our old ways. When we return to our old ways we choose death.

XXIV. John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

a. God loves you and has good plans for you. But if you choose to walk separate from God you will never experience the joy and fullness of life God wants to give you.

XXV. Galatians 6:8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

XXVI. Joshua 24:15 But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family we will serve the Lord.

XXVII. Challenge(3min)

a. So now we've heard all these things seen what God's Word has to say about personal transformation. God says that His Word is living and active able to pierce into our soul and Spirit. He also says that His Word has purpose and it will accomplish its purpose wherever He sends it. Tonight you are faced with a decision. Today whom will you serve? Will you serve your harmful desires that lead to destruction? Or will you choose to serve the Lord?

b. Are you ready to change? Are you ready to be transformed? True and lasting change only occurs in a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to experience freedom and fullness in life then you must be in relationship with Him. If you want healing from the hurts of this life and want peace that transcends all understanding you must surrender control of your life to the will of God.

c. What things in your life are keeping you from living life with Christ? What is keeping you from true transformation? God's Word says He's given everything we need to overcome the World! He's given Himself.

XXVIII. Time of Response(2min)

*(Music starts)

a. In the next couple of moments we want you to have the opportunity to respond to God's invitation to live life with Him. As you came in each of you received a piece of paper, if you don't have one there is some paper on the sides and pens. As the next few songs are played take this time to reflect on the things that are in your life that you need to lay at the foot of the cross. There are some glass jars at the base of the cross for you to symbolically cast your burdens aside. Surrender it to Jesus.

b. Take this time to reflect and respond. If you need to talk to someone or would like someone to pray with you our ministry team and staff are on the sides ready for you.

XXIV. Take My Life(5:04)

XXV. Everyday(4:41)

Total Time: 70 min

October’s Obtestations

Wow! It’s already the end of October! The month barely began and it’s already over! October has been a month of great growth marked by obstacles and trials both in the ministry and personally. The weeks are flying by so fast that its getting hard to keep track of everything that’s going on!

I kicked off the first weekend of October attending my monthly Battle Assembly for the Army Reserve and was relieved to find out that I wouldn’t have to take the Physical Training test that weekend. The first weekend of October also marked the beginning of a new era at First Southern Baptist Church as they welcomed senior pastor Randy Mullinax and family.

The beginning of October also marked the beginning of a new phase with the men God has entrusted to the small groups I lead. The past two months have been focused on teaching my men how to read the bible. Teaching them to read scripture holistically analyzing passages of scripture in the context that it is written and seeking to understand the message the author was communicating to the original audience. Then teaching them how to extract the timeless truths of scripture and apply the Word of God to their lives. I closed out the last two months with a basic summary of what we had been learning the past two months in a document entitled, “Creating Dynamic Small Group Bible Studies.” The document goes into more depth about the thematic approach to studying scripture. I used some of the principles I’ve learned from various classes in my undergraduate as well as a few seminars on bible teaching. However most of the information that I gave out was from Dr. Bob Utley’s free bible commentary. The document also contained a description of the improvement rubric for the “Small Group Leadership Evaluations.” After the first several weeks of demonstrating how to facilitate small group bible study discussion I gave the students the opportunity to practice leading. They would complete a “Self Evaluation” and give “Peer Evaluations” to two other members of the small group. Later in my one on one time with each student we would review the evaluations in the context of the notes I took as I observed their leading.

The next few weeks we start a new cycle and I am demonstrating as well as teaching the students how to use the inductive bible study method. I’ve demonstrated how to use inductive bible study for personal study using a template worksheet I’ve created. Soon I hope to show how this more intensive form of bible study aids in the facilitation of small group discussion. It is a little difficult doing all this simply because I’m creating, teaching and demonstrating on the fly. However, I do believe that future semester will become progressively easier in terms of pace and availability of resources.

In addition to teaching the men in my small groups to have confidence in God’s Word through intensive study of scripture, I have also been attempting to systemize the approach I’ve taken in coaching/developing the young men I meet with. A few of the young men I meet with have already taken the initiative to seek out and begin the process of discipleship. Naturally, many questions arise regarding what to do or how to help someone. At present I’ve been during my one on one time attempting to answer each individual question that comes up allow each young leader to lead in the way that best fits their personality. However, since the beginning of the month I have been more conscientious of how I coach/develop/counsel these young men looking for common patterns in both the dynamics of the meeting and questions that come up. I hope to finish preparing a document for distribution to leaders I am mentoring now as a form of future reference in their discipleship relationships.

Many of the people that I talk to are also serving as leaders or desire to be leaders in ministry or other organizations. Two relationships I have with students from Priority College Ministry (FSBC) in particular led to the creation of a more generic leadership document. This document also contains self and peer evaluations for specific leadership events. There is a detailed description of each of the categories of evaluation and a brief overview of what it means to be a leader. I have not used these materials with students outside of Priority College Ministry, however, before completing the current draft, I sent out the material to fellow ministry workers and some have begun to use the evaluation tools in developing their leaders. Alex, the other college intern at Christian Challenge, asked if he could use the material with the ministry team at Christian Challenge which of prompted my urgent completion of a description of the evaluation criteria.

Aside from all that stuff, things have been very hectic in the lives of our students as they are in the midst of midterm exams. There have also been many financial, healths, and relational issues the students have been persevering through. So please keep them in your prayers. I could not ask for a better first semester experience in terms of the types of students I get to interact with. There seems to be cohesion among the students I believe to be borne out of a clear sense of identity as a ministry. Seeing and hearing all the students gathering at the Christian Challenge building doing life together is both encouraging and distracting. But Praise God!!! This has all been a little nostalgic for me and in some ways an answered prayer. If you knew me from before then you’d be aware that I during my undergraduate I was heavily involved with the Asian American Student Affairs (APASA) Office and all the Asian clubs that fell under it. There was a great sense of community and family there that I wished was a part of some of the campus ministries I participated in. APASA was also characterized by a lot of community service projects and just fun activities. The thing that was depressing about my association with APASA was that although many of these people were my friends and wonderful people none of them were believers. APASA was a group of people doing great things but only with an eye on the immediate. Doing things with a lack of perception on the eternal So hearing from students how they feel like Challenge is a home away from home and family is a blessing. It is a blessing to be a part of a group of people that is seeking to know God more intimately and proclaim His glory throughout our community.

God has also opened a door back into APASA for me through some former students at the Tae Kwon Do studio I assisted at. Some of the students that used to attend tae kwon do as junior high and high school students are now students at the UofA. Two of them approached me through my brother and asked me if I could train them and get them into shape so they could go back to Tae Kwon Do. I didn’t really have much expectation for ministry in this request but the first day they came two more students from APASA came with them. All of them are unbelievers, however here they are coming to Christian Challenge. Please be in prayer for these students. Hopefully they will continue to want to come both for the Tae Kwon Do training but more importantly for the relationships they can build with the believing students of Christian Challenge.

This brings me to my last request. As I mentioned earlier several of the students in our ministry have been facing adversity in various forms. Several students have been attending our small groups and large group meetings that openly share that they are not Christians. Christian students have been expressing a desire to change. To be freed from whatever…there is a common thread of people desiring to be transformed. People that want the power to change. The past semester we have been going through a series at Christian Challenge called the Pursuit. The whole series climaxes November 2, 2010 @ 7pm. The topic for the night is personal transformation. All the things that we’ve talked about so far have led the students to a point where they have to decide if they will choose to pursue relationship with Jesus or not. I especially crave your prayers for this night as the responsibility of presenting this topic has fallen to me. So ya’ll know I can use a lot of prayer for wisdom, integrity, humility, and tact. In all seriousness I really desire prayer for myself and for the students involved in helping to put this night together. Also for all the students coming that are sitting on the tip of the iceberg. I know God has a plan and a purpose for the lives of these students and that in spite of me still speaks to the hearts of the people that come. Please pray that this is a night born out of scripture, flows with scripture, and that the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ pours forth from the lives that are changed by the power of His Holy Word.