Acts 26

We get to take a look at Paul’s testimony in front of King Agrippa. He recounts his past self, a man who was persecuting followers of Jesus, and his life changing encounter with Jesus that turned his whole purpose around. (As a quick recap, he was on the road to Damascus as a pharisee to kill even more Jews when Jesus appeared in a bright light to give Paul a new mission.) Do you have a landmark moment like that? Your testimony is a powerful tool. Like Paul, we should be using every opportunity to share our testimony with whoever has ears to hear it! God truly can use anyone, from any walk of life, to share the Good News of His glory. The accusers pointed out that Paul must be out of his mind. There will always be unbelievers that will see believers as “out of their mind”. But, it doesn’t even matter to Paul. It shouldn’t matter to us either. we have the opportunity to press on joyfully, sharing what we know to be true. Sharing the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul is a great example of how we should use every opportunity presented to us to share our faith story. That’s it, we get to share. It’s God’s hand that can use our words in the hearts of others.

Collective Gathering

Uncategorized

EASTER GATHERING

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See What A Morning

VERSE 1

See what a morning, gloriously bright

With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem

Folded the grave clothes, tomb filled with light

As the angels announce, “Christ is risen”!

See God’s salvation plan, wrought in love

Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice

Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives

Christ is risen from the dead

VERSE 2

See Mary weeping, “Where is He laid”?

As in sorrow she turn from the empty tomb

Hears a voice speaking, calling her name

It’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again

The voice that spans the years: speaking life

Stirring hope, bringing peace to us

Will sound till He appears, for He lives

Christ is risen from the dead

VERSE 3

One with the Father, Ancient of Days

Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty

Honor and blessing, glory and praise

To the King crowned with power and authority

And we are raised with Him, death is dead,

Love has won, Christ has conquered

And we shall reign with Him, for He lives

Christ is risen from the dead

RESURRECTING

VERSE 1

The head that once was crowned with thorns

Is crowned with glory now

The Savior knelt to wash our feet

Now at His feet we bow

VERSE 2

The one who wore our sin and shame

Now robed in majesty

The radiance of perfect love

Now shines fro all to see

CHORUS

Your name, Your name is victory

All praise will rise to Christ our King

(2x)

VERSE 3

The fear that held us now gives way

To Him who is our peace

His final breath upon the cross

Is now alive in me

CHORUS

Your name, Your name is victory

All praise will rise to Christ our King

(2x)

BRIDGE

By Your Spirit, I will rise

from the ashes of defeat

The resurrected King

Is resurrecting me

In Your name I come alive

To declare Your victory

The resurrected King

Is resurrecting me

(2x)

VERSE 4

The tomb where soldiers watched in vain

Was borrowed for three days

His body there would not remain

Our God has robbed the grave

CHORUS

Your name, Your name is victory

All praise will rise to Christ our King

(2x)

BRIDGE

By Your Spirit, I will rise

from the ashes of defeat

The resurrected King

Is resurrecting me

In Your name I come alive

To declare Your victory

The resurrected King

Is resurrecting me

(2x)

RESURRECTION STORY

Cindy Perry

TIME OF SHARING

“How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope for today?”

WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Jay Perry

Living Hope

VERSE 1

How great the chasm that lay between us

How high the mountain I could not climb

In desperation, I turned to heaven

And spoke Your name into the night

Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness

Tore through the shadows of my soul

The work is finished, the end is written

Jesus Christ, my living Hope

VERSE 2

Who could imagine so a great a mercy

What heart could fathom such boundless grace

The God of ages stepped down from glory

To wear my sin and bear my shame

The cross has spoken, I am forgiven

The King of kings calls me His own

Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever

Jesus Christ, my living Hope

CHORUS

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living Hope

(2x)

VERSE 3

Then came the morning that sealed the promise

Your buried body began to breathe

Out of the silence, the roaring Lion

Declared the grave has no claim on me

(2x)

Jesus, Yours is the victory

CHORUS

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living Hope

(2x)

COMMUNION

Luke Zimmermann

PRAYER

IN CHRIST ALONE

VERSE 1

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in all

Here in the love of Christ, I stand

VERSE 2

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on the cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

Forever every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ, I live

VERSE 3

There in the ground, His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

VERSE 4

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first call to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

10:02 Prayer

Prayer

10:02 Prayer

DOWNLOAD PDF

OVERVIEW

Also called the 9:38 Prayer, this prayer takes to heart Jesus’ command to, “Ask the Lord of the harvest… to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10.2; Matt. 9.38). We want to see God raise people up and go into the places we live on mission, proclaim the gospel, and disciple. Whether it is to a specific people, geolocation, or our everyday life, disciples do not have to leave the confines of their city, or even neighborhood, to be sent out into the harvest. This is good to pray for God to send someone to join you in the mission you are engaging in or have a desire to engage in.

CONTEXT

Jesus sends out the Twelve (Luke 9.1-9), then sends out the Seventy-Two (Luke 10.1-24) to prepare the way and proclaim the kingdom of God drawing near. Jesus observes, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” He acknowledges the need for more people to prepare and proclaim, so he commands his disciples to “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Twelve was not enough in Luke 9 and Seventy-Two are not enough in Luke 10—pray for more to enter the harvest!

In Matt. 9:38, the disciples become the answer to their own prayer. As Jesus teaches them to pray, they themselves are the ones sent out (Matt. 10:1).

THE PRAYER

Set an alarm to go off at 10:02 or 9:38 every day.
Simply pray: “Lord of the harvest, send out workers into the harvest field. Amen.”
Invite others to join with you in this prayer.

TIPS

Although this is a simple prayer, it is a significant one. It is ultimately praying scripture and following a command of Jesus which in no way is weak!

Try to focus on simple geographic areas, especially areas that you are close to: where you live, work, or play. That way you can see the answer to this prayer.

This is not a one-time prayer! Keep praying it on a daily basis.

A.C.T.S. Prayer

Prayer

A.C.T.S. Prayer

DOWNLOAD PDF

OVERVIEW

The ACTS Prayer is a simple tool to learn to pray. If you are having a difficult time knowing how to pray, where to begin, or what to cover, this can be helpful to keep you focused and centered on the heart of prayer. This is a great way to pray alone or in a group setting.

Jesus’ disciples approached him and requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11.1b). John probably taught his disciples differently and used a different approach, but Jesus taught what has come to be called The Lord’s Prayer. The ACTS Prayer is only one tool to learn to pray.

ACTS is a simple acronym to remember the four steps in this prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

ADORATION

Begin by adoring God. Take a few minutes to simply praise God for who He is. It is not that God has forgotten who He is and needs reminding, it reminds us of who God says He is and of His faithfulness. Praise Him for…

His Person (i.e. as Father, King, Provider)
His Character (i.e. holy, powerful, all-knowing)
His Mighty Works (i.e. in the story of Israel, through the work of Jesus, in our own lives)

Oftentimes, we want to praise God in relation to the pains or blessings that we are experiencing at the moment. If we are struggling with needing guidance about a difficult decision, we can adore God for His infinite wisdom. If we receive a promotion, we can adore Him for His provision.

(Read through the Names of God)

CONFESSION

Next, move into a time of confession. Confession simply means ‘to agree’. It is when we come before God and acknowledge our sin, agreeing with Him that sin is not the way He has made us to live.

Spend a moment thinking about your previous day, let the Spirit reveal anything that needs to be brought to light, and confess to Him those things.

This is not a time to beat yourself up, nor is it a rote agreement. The hope is for confession to lead to repentance—the turning away from sin and to the truth of God.

(Read the Confession of Sin below)

THANKSGIVING

After acknowledging sin, move into a time of thankfulness. Gratitude is the heart of faith in God because thankfulness moves us beyond ourselves to another—in this case God. Thank God for things like blessings and trials (Jam. 1.2-4, Rom. 5.3-5); gifts and losses; kindness and persecution (Acts 5.40-41; 2 Tim. 3.12); Jesus and the Spirit. We have so much to be thankful for!

(Read a Thanksgiving Psalm—i.e. 34, 95, 100, 136)

SUPPLICATION

Finally, enter a time of praying for your needs and those around you. Supplication means to humbly come before God and make requests. Spend time thinking through your relationships where you church, live, work, and recreate—who do you know in those spaces that have needs?

It can be good to take time to write down prayer requests—both yours and others. As you, or your group, pray, cross the ones off that are answered!

Confession of Sin

From the Daily Morning Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer

Leader:

Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

(Time to confess sins silently or aloud)

Everyone:

Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.
and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare all those who confess their faults.
Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

Leader:

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, desires not the death of sinners, but that they may turn from their wickedness and live. He has empowered and commanded his ministers to pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all who truly repent and genuinely believe his holy Gospel. For this reason, we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that our present deeds may please him, the rest of our lives may be pure and holy, and that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Four Questions

Gospel

FOUR QUESTIONS

& Kairos Circle

(Adapted from Caesar Kalinowski)

This is a tool primarily to be used in community. However it does have benefits to engage in personally when your community is not present to work through it together—in moments at work, at home dealing with kids, or times of simply being alone. It is encouraged to take these personal times of going through it and go through it in community again when you have an opportunity. God speaks through His people and, quite frankly, we need the community of Christ to speak into the spaces where we may miss.

Begin by learning the Four Questions. Get used to them and grow in how they relate and connect. These questions are intended to be grounded in our identity. This is a tool that first and foremost is to direct us back into who we are in Christ in light of situations (joyful or hurtful) that take place.

Although very connected, these tools have slightly different purposes. The Four Questions is meant to help guide you, or you guide others, through situations from an identity-level. They are meant to be used in casual conversation and in these situations, may require more follow-up questions than simply “moving” through the Four Questions. The Kairos Circle is to help you discern a moment when God may be speaking to you (through a situation, experience, or word). The Kairos Circle is a little more intentional and less flexible and mobile like the Four Questions.

THE FOUR QUESTIONS

1. Who is God?

This question focuses on God’s nature and attributes. In light of the situation you find yourself in, “Who is God?”

Examples: Father, Glorious, Savior, Lord, Good Shepherd, Faithful, etc.

(Reference Names of God and 4 G’s of God to help answer this question)

NAMES OF GOD

4 G'S OF GOD

2. What has He done?

This question has three sub-parts, be sure to answer each them:

A. In Scripture?

Think through God’s Narrative and choose a story (or two) that relates to the names or attributes of God from Q#1: What did God do in the story? How did He prove His faithfulness? What was the person’s response to Him?

B. In your own life?

Now, think through your own life and dwell upon how God has proven His nature and attribute from Q#1 in your life. It may be something very subtle, but we can still give God the glory in it.

C. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?

Finally, think through the life of Jesus in relation to Q#1. How did Jesus embody God’s name and attributes?

3. What is now true of us?

Now in light of who God is (Q#1) and how He has revealed Himself (Q#2) in light of your current situation, what is true of your identity?

(Reference Identity in Christ to help answer)

IDENTITY IN CHRIST

4. How do we get to respond?

In light of (1) Who God is, (2) How He has shown this to be true, and (3) What is true of you now—how will you now live and act?

This is about receiving the truth of who God is and who He has re-made you to be and walking in that! This is not “do this” so that you can “be that”. We must receive first who God says we are, in light of who He is, and then we get to walk it out in faith and love of God.

Kairos Circle

There are two words for time in Greek—chronos and kairos. Chronos is used for linear time while kairos is used for a specific moment—especially as it pertains to an “opportune” or “suitable” moment. Sometimes this is referred to as a “Divine” or “God moment”. They are instances that may be brought about by God, or at least be used by God, to reveal something to us.

When these instances happen it is important to stop and observe what may be at play in these instances. It is important to remember that these do not need to be done alone, but are actually better when done in community, as the full body is able to speak into what is going on.

As shown above, there are two sections to analyzing a Kairos Moment: Repent and Believe. Repent simply means to turn from something and then turn to something else. In this part, it is all about turning from unbelief in God and turning to belief in God. Believe then is, after turning to the truth of who God is, receiving who He says you are in light of this Kairos Moment.

Steps

1. Observe

Take time to think through or write out what took place in this moment.

2. Who Is God? What is He Like?

3. How has He shown this to be true?

A. In Scripture?

B. In your own life?

C. In the life of Jesus?

4. What is now true of you?

5. How do you now get to live?

A. Identity—who are you in Christ?

B. Authority—what power has Christ given you?

C. Privilege—what privileges do you have in light of Jesus?

6. Accountability?

Accountability is not about someone following up and ensuring you are “doing” the right thing, it is about someone speaking the truth into you in light of what you have gone through with the questions. This is why community is so important to this tool! Other people are able to come alongside you and remind you who you are in Jesus.

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