NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT JUNE 3rd, 2015

WNBS@FBCE WILL NOT MEET

WITH VBS BEING THE FOCUS DURING THIS WEEK

AND VBS WILL BE DOING A SPECIAL FAMILY PRESENTATION

SO, WE WILL NOT MEET

**********************************************************

WE WILL MEET FOR OUR LAST SESSION OF

ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015

The Discipline of Service

Lesson 6

The Discipline of Service

Focus Scripture: Luke 17:7-10   &   John 13:1-18

Luke describes two types:

A. One for does not serve God(master), but expects God(master) to serve him

B. One who does serve God (master) and expects God (master) to serve him in returned 

1. We must not expect God to serve US before we have served HIM. 

• What are you expecting from God?
• Protection for our children/family
  
• Financial provision
• Healing
• Wisdom
• Salvation for you & family

2. We must not expect any immediate return for our service.

• Don’t serve for something you get back
• Reasons People Quit Serving
• I didn’t feel appreciated
• I didn’t get the results I wanted
  
• I didn’t get the feeling I wanted
• Ministry (serving) is hard work

3. We must see service as our obligation to Jesus Christ

• We are commanded to serve

4. We must serve faithfully. (John 13:1-18  Jesus’ example of serving others)

• Faithful: constant in the performance of duty
• We Must Serve Faithfully
• Even when my schedule is Full (busyness; a poison that slowly and steadily kills our ability to serve God and others.
• Even when I want to Quit
• Even when my heart is Breaking (heavy – saddened)
• Even when I serve in Silence

5. We must serve Humbly, Mutually, Immediately

Scriptures   Luke 17:7-10   John 13:1-18   

The Discipline of Fellowship

SESSION 5

The Discipline of Fellowship

(Acts 2:42)

“Christianity is not a solo sport. We need Truth-tellers & Burden-bearers.” (Romans 12:9-10)

THE TOP 10 THING THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FELLOWSHIP

10. Fellowship means our common life together.

• Koinonia: (Greek) a relationship between individuals that involves active participation in a common interest and thereby in each other.

9. Fellowship was a high priority in the early church. (Acts 2:4)                                                                                                                                                                                
8. Fellowship is for believers only. (2 Cor. 6:14)

• Our closest relationships, our life-giving relationships, should be with people who know and love Jesus Christ.
• Friendship is important but is not the same as Fellowship.

7. Fellowship centers on our common relationship to Christ. (1 Cor. 1:9)

• Various Levels of Relationships:
• Surface: (Weather-Sports-News)  
• Personal: (Health-Job-Family)  
• Spiritual: (Bible Study-Prayers-Compassion)
• Moving a relationship to a Spiritual Level
• Don’t Rush     
• Go First     
• Be Specific   
• (Genuine compassionate conversation)

6. Fellowship involves sharing what I have. (2 Cor. 8:1-4)

5. Fellowship is about partnership in ministry. (Gal. 2:9)

4. Fellowship requires commitment. (Phil. 1:5)

• Things That Break Down Commitment:
• Entitlement   Difference in getting and receiving
• Superiority   (Prov. 3:7) ”Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Gal. 6:3)
• Agenda
• Aloofness
• Injury - Hurt

3. Fellowship hurts sometimes. (Phil 3:10) absorb it for the sake of others
I experience the fellowship of Jesus’ suffering when I take a pain that I do not deserve. (Jesus took (suffered) what He did not deserve.)

2. Fellowship requires honesty. (1 John 1:6-9) – (This is the heart of being AUTHENTIC.)

1. Fellowship produces unity. (Eph. 4:3) (Gal. 6:2) (Phil 2:2)

Quotes: 

“We have only one product here at Harvest Church. It is a person and He is free.”

“I have asked the Lord to take from me the super-sensitivity, that robs the soul of joy and peace and cause fellowship to cease.”

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!

WNBS@FBCE

After a two week layoff (fast) we are

"CRANKING IT UP"

again this Wednesday Night!!!!!!

I know you are ready to learn 

about the discipline of fellowship!!!!

Important Updates for WNBS@FBCE

Special Announcement:

May 6th & 13th we will not meet.

There will be special family events in the sanctuary on these dates. 

We encourage all to participate in these events.

We will resume our study on May 20th!

Congregational Survey from Search Committee: 

Please complete the survey that the Search Committee has produced. They are available at the church office, sanctuary, and Sunday School classrooms. This survey is your opportunity to share your attitudes and desires regarding the selection of our new pastor. Please be in prayer concerning your answers. Continue to pray for the Search Committee, individually and collectively, as they seek God's will in HIS search and call for our next pastor.

The Discipline of Fasting

Session 4

THE DISCIPLINE OF FASTING

(Righteous Hunger - Matt 5:6)

Fasting: abstaining from food for measured periods of time in order  to heighten my hunger for God

Compare your hunger for God with your hunger for food.     John 4: 34-35 

The Discipline of Fasting

• We have little hunger for God.
• We only have so much hunger.
• The attempt to satisfy self apart from doing the will of God is inevitably not just a frustrating and empty thing but even a very discouraging thing.
• Our enslavement to food hinders our hunger for God. (Deut 32:15, Philippians 3:19)
• There has to be a humble recognition that food is filling a place in my heart, is giving a strength, is giving a comfort, and is giving a relief that God wants to give.
• Fasting breaks our enslavement to food. (1 Cor 6:12-14, 19-20)
• Anything I have to have is enslavement for me.
• Fasting reveals the things that control us. (1 Peter 2:11)
• Fasting can ignite our hunger for God. 
• (Psalms 69:10, Esther 4:16, Ezra 10:6, Daniel 10:3, Acts 9:9, Joel 2:15, 2 Chron 20:3)
• Kinds of Fasts
• Normal Fast  - Partial Fast - Absolute Fast - Corporate Fast
• When to fast: (Isaiah 58:3)
• When you are caught in a sinful pattern. (Isaiah 58:5)
• When you have a heavy burden. (Isaiah 58:6)
• When you are oppressed by the enemy. (Isaiah 58:6)
• When you want to give  to someone else. (Isaiah 58:7)
• When you need encouragement. (Isaiah 58:8)
• When you need an answer to prayer (Isaiah 58:9)
• When you need to examine yourself. (Isaiah 58:10)
• When you need direction. (Isaiah 58:11)
• When you need to be spiritually restored (Isaiah 58:12)
• When you need to be revived (Isaiah 58:13)