Sermon Series: The Way 10/2/11-11/20/11
Some of Jesus’ statements about the way to do life are extremely challenging. Join the PCC community on an 8-week journey of wrestling through the implications of His teaching for our lives.
To fully engage in the journey each week, read the assigned chapter of Radical prior to hearing the related message on Sunday. Then, join your new or existing group to wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus.
.
// Group Options
As a church, we are entering in to an 8-week wrestle with what it means for each of us to follow Jesus. Here are the three things we are inviting everyone to commit to for this season:
• READ 1 Chapter from Radical ($10 at PCC)
• HEAR 1 Passage preached on Sunday
• JOIN 1 Group to wrestle in
To get in a group or facilitate a new one sign up using the insert in the Worship Center/bulletin or contact Janet Miclean or Brian Rhen.
Click here for the Facilitator Expectations & Weekly Group Studies.
Coed 50+ classes: Sun. 9:00AM or 10:30AM, Location: PCC
Women: Mon. 7:00PM or Tues. 9:30AM [need childcare?], Location: PCC
College/YA/YMarrieds: Tues. 7:00PM, Location: PCC
Men: Tues. 7:30PM or Weds. 6:15AM, Location: PCC
Coed or Gender-based: Various Days & Times, Location: Homes
.
// Facilitator Training
(1 hour required for new or current)
9/25, or 10/2 at 12:00PM in Room 20
*lunch provided
.
// Fasting Information
// The Way Dates
9/25 The Way Overview
9/28 Prayer Night 7:15PM
10/02 Week 1: Something Worth Losing Everything For
10/03 Groups begin weekly
10/09 Week 2: Too Hungry for Words
10/16 Week 3: Beginning at the End of Ourselves
10/23 Week 4: The Great Why of God
10/30 Week 5: Multiplying Community
11/06 Week 6: How Much is Enough?
11/13 Week 7: There Is No Plan B
11/15 Documentary Film: Beware of Christians
11/20 Week 8: Living when Dying is Gain / Baptism Celebration
.
// THE WAY: Weekly Overview
Week 1 – 10.02.11 Something Worth Losing Everything For
Biblical Passage: Luke 14:25-33 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: In the Bay Area, what does it mean for you to truly give up everything for Him?
The Reality: Jesus calls us to give up everything and follow Him. This is one of the most difficult of Jesus’ teachings. However, a difficulty does not excuse us from taking very seriously what Jesus teaches here. The call to be a disciple is not one to be taken lightly. It requires great sacrifice, commitment, and a willingess to listen to the Spirit of God. This enables us to become whom God intended and expand the Kingdom.
—————————————————–
Week 2 – 10.09.11 Too Hungry for Words
Biblical Passage: Matthew 7:13-14, 24-27 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: How much of your response to the Gospel is based on American religious culture and how much is biblical?
The Reality: There is a proper bibilical response to the Gospel. In an American dream where self reigns as king or queen, we have a dangerous tendency to misunderstand, minimize, and even manipulate the Gospel in order to accommodate our assumptions and desires. As a result, we desperately need to explore whether we have misconstrued a proper response to the Gospel, misinterpreted the Bible for our benefit, and maybe even missed the primary reward of the Gospel, which is God Himself.
—————————————————–
Week 3 – 10.16.11 Beginning at the End of Ourselves
Biblical Passage: John 15:1-11 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: In your life, what does being dependent, relying on His power, and giving Him the glory look like?
The Reality: There is no way to live for God apart from total dependence on HIm. The dangerous assumption we unknowingly accept is believing our greatest asset is our own ability. The American dream prizes what people can accomplish when they believe and trust in themselves, and we are drawn toward such thinking. But the Gospel has different priorities. The Gospel beckons us to die to ourselves, believe in God, trust in His power, and give Him the glory. While the goal of the American dream is to make much of us, the goal of the Gospel is to make much of God.
—————————————————–
Week 4 –10.23.11 The Great Why of God
Biblical Passage: Matthew 16:13-20 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: How have you been blessed and to what extent are you blessing others with the intent of making Him known?
The Reality: The blessings of God’s people are to be used to bless others and make salvation known. God blesses His people with extravagant grace so they might extend His extravagant grace to all peoples on the earth. Our hearts resonate with the idea of enjoying God’s grace. We bask in abilities, gifts, resources, sermons, conferences, and books exalting a grace centering on us. And while the wonder of grace is worthy of our attention, if that grace is disconnected from its purpose, the sad result is a self-centered Christianity bypassing the heart of God and His greater purpose.
—————————————————–
Week 5 –10.30.11 The Multiplying Community
Biblical Passage: Matthew 28:16-20 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: Locally and globally how are you participating in developing followers of Christ (disciples)?
The Reality: All followers of Christ are called to devote their lives to making other disciples. Regardless of the country in which we live, the skills we possess, the kind of education we have, or the kind of salary we make, Jesus has commanded each of us to make disciples and by doing so impact the world. Indeed, Jesus has invited us to join with Him in the journey of spreading the Gospel to all nations by spending our lives for the good of others and the glory of God.
—————————————————–
Week 6 –11.06.11 How Much is Enough?
Biblical Passage: Matthew 25:31-46 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: How is God calling you to act more socially responsibly?
The Reality:All followers of Christ are called to meet the needs of the afflicted in the world. Since we have been commanded to make disciples of all nations, and poverty is rampant in the world to which God has called us, then we cannot ignore these realities. Anyone wanting to proclaim the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth must consider both how to declare the Gospel verbally while also demonstrating the Gospel visibly. If our lives have “a blind spot” for the poor, there is reason to question just how effective we will be in declaring the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth.
—————————————————–
Week 7 –11.13.11 There Is No Plan B [sermon notes]
Biblical Passage: John 14:1-6
The Wrestle: How have you reconciled this truth in your own life and what urgency do you have to share it?
Reality: God has made the way of salvation available solely though faith in Jesus Christ. We live in a society that wants to call into question God’s justice and love if it is asserted that He would dare not save all humankind. Scenarios are presented in which humans are the victims of a vindictive, impatient, judgmental, wrathful God. The reality, of course, is that He is the victim. We abandoned Him. We deserved no recourse, no rescue, and no redemption. Yet, because of His great justice and love He made a way — the Way that humankind might be able to know Him and come to dwell with Him forever. However, most are either overly self-absorbed, lack a proper understanding of His love or live in fear of sharing this good news.
—————————————————–
Week 8 –11.20.11 Living When Dying Is Gain
Biblical Passage: John 21:1-25 [sermon notes]
The Wrestle: How is your Bay Area life a reflection of risking for Him?
The Reality: Following Jesus involves risking the safety, security, and satisfaction found in this world. Jesus said following Him leads to a radical reward this world can never offer. The key to taking back your faith from the American dream is realizing and believing this world is not your home. If you and I ever hope to free our lives from worldly desires, worldly thinking, worldly pleasures, worldly dreams, worldly ideals, worldly values, worldly ambitions, and worldly acclaim, then we must focus our lives on another world.