If you missed Sunday's broadcast, please catch up by following the link below. (For the foreseeable future, we be running our Sunday morning services digitally. Please go to our website on Sundays at 10:30 to join in)
As this lockdown lifts, fears can arise as we face uncertainty. Let's learn from Gideon, a normal, fearful man who found strength, victory and peace.
Please watch today's video devotional from Jem and Susie
What changed things for Gideon? An encounter with God transformed him.
'The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12)
God gives Gideon a new name - "You are a mighty man of valour"; He also gives him and new truth - "I am with you".
God not only gives individuals encouragement through new identities and new names, He also lifts His Church.
'The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendour in theLord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah (delight), and your land Beulah (Married); for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.' (Isaiah 62:2-4)
Our identity is that we are the 'Bride of Christ'. No matter the circumstances or what people call us, God speaks love, dignity and power over us.
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY – DREAMERS STORE AND SHARE BY THE SPIRIT
Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News
Suggested opener/Ice-breaker
What are you really good at and how did you come to realise this?
Introduction - please read in your group
Please read Genesis 41:33-38
On Sunday our message was entitled, ‘Dreamers store and share by the Spirit’. The main point was that we can only share what we store.
Joseph was a man who was 'discerning and wise' and Spirit-filled (Genesis 42: and if we are to be effective in living in the dreams (God's will) that the Father has given to us, we need to store these attributes.
'Discernment' is about knowledge. We store discernment through devotion to scripture.
'Wisdom' is about application of truth in life. We store 'wisdom' by putting truth into practice and paying attention to the lessons that God is teaching us in our lives.
Finally, it was said of Joseph, '“Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God” . We become Spirit-filled through investing in our relationship with God.
If we store in these areas, we will have something to share with others. We will be a real blessing.
Discuss/share/pray in smaller groups:
We were encouraged on Sunday, to take a lunch break each day in order to 'store' God's truth and invest in our relationship with God. How has this been going for you?
What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about (maybe from Sunday's message)?
What will you do in response?
How can we pray for you?
Do you plan to invite anyone to our Alpha Course beginning Monday 15th June 7:30pm? Let's pray for our upcoming Alpha course and that we would make the invitation. For more details go to: https://www.communitychurchputney.com/alpha
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