New Day Christian Church - Weston, WI

Adulting: Rhythm

Sabbath--24 Consecutive Hours of Rest Each Week

Genesis 2:2-3 (NLT) 2  On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3  And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

Exodus 16:29a (NLT) They must realize that the Sabbath is the LORD’s gift to you.

Exodus 23:12 (NLT)  You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed.

 

The Daily Office--Retreating to Connect With God Throughout the Day

Mark 6:30-32 (NLT) 30  The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31  Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32  So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.  

Luke 5:16 (NLT)  But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.  

Mark 1:35 (NLT)  Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Matthew 14:23 (NLT)  After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 28  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Adulting 5: Grief and Loss

https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/VideoElement/268042

On April 1 we’ll celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Two days before the celebration of renewed life, we’ll remember the crucifixion on Good Friday. Before resurrection, there is death; there is loss. Loss and grief are a part of life, and they are tools God uses to grow us into who He wants us to be. We’ll take a look at an example God gives us to follow into times of grief and loss.

KEY VERSES: Job 1:20-22 (NLT) 20  Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21  He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” 22  In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.  

Five Lessons from Job to Let Suffering Grow Us

1. 1. 1. Be Real
      2. In the Tension, Wait.
      3. Embrace the Gift of Limits.
      4. Erase your Status.
      5. Let the Old Birth the New.

Adulting - The Wall

Why can’t we simply decide to be more spiritually mature and then just do it? Everyone on a spiritual journey runs into walls--difficulties that challenge our character and our motivation. These walls don’t happen according to our plan or predictions. Thankfully, God has given us examples to help us prepare for our own seasons of suffering, to move through the walls that would otherwise leave us stuck.

KEY TEXT: Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT) 11  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Moving Through the Wall

1. My Focus: My WILL vs. God’s WILL
2. My Work: Awareness, Forgiveness, Acceptance

SUGGESTED READING: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero (Updated Edition, Zondervan 2017)

Adulting Part 3

Adults have to learn how to navigate, even without GPS. Sometimes to know where we are (in driving or in life), we have to know where we have come from. Scripture gives us a powerful example of someone who could have remained stuck in bitterness and depression his whole life. Instead, he went back in order to move forward.

KEY TEXT: Genesis 50:20 (NLT) You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 

BIG IDEA: It’s impossible to go forward on your spiritual journey without first going back.

 

3 Applications from Joseph’s Response to his Family

1. Recognize your Family Iceberg.
2. Discern the good God intends.
3. Do the hard work of discipleship.

SUGGESTED READING: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero (Updated Edition, Zondervan 2017)

Adulting Part 2: Know Yourself

Who are you really? One of the earliest results of sin was Adam and Eve covering themselves and hiding from God. In hundreds of ways we continue that pattern today. But we don't have to. In Adulting 2 we'll look at a biblical figure who will inspire us to be real about who we are--who God created us to be.

KEY TEXT: 1 Samuel 17:45,47 (NLT)  David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied...And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

Big Idea: Hiding our true selves keeps us from truly knowing God.

Adulting Part 1

Growing older is not the same as growing up. While physical maturity happens automatically, emotional and spiritual maturity take both time and intention. In the Adulting series we’ll look at the problem of immaturity in the lives of disciples, how it affects our families, our churches, and our witness to the world. Then we’ll discover the paths God has given us to truly grow up in our faith, to become more like Christ.

KEY VERSE:  Hebrews 5:12 (NLT) You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

Push Notifications: Love God

Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Is this reasonable? Is this worth it? What does it look like to be desperate for God?

Push Notifications: Go and Multiply

How should a church measure success? The conventional “scorecard” measures addition: How much is being added in terms of bodies (attendance), budget, and building? A more biblical scorecard would measure multiplication: How many disciples are we making who then go and make more disciples? How many churches are we planting that are then planting more churches? Each of us has a role in God’s plan for multiplication.

Genesis 1:22a (NLT)  Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply…”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) 18  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 (NLT)  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=676TpKq_6Ok

PUSH Notifications: Pray Like This

We know that prayer is an important part of discipleship, so let’s break down some of the barriers that keep us from heartfelt, refreshing conversations with God.

Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT) 9  Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10  May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11  Give us today the food we need, 12  and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13  And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

1.  PRAISE.  I BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY LOVE TO GOD.  
2.  PURPOSE:  I COMMIT MYSELF TO GOD'S PURPOSE AND WILL FOR MY LIFE.
3.  PROVISION:  I ASK GOD TO PROVIDE FOR MY NEEDS.
4.  PARDON:  I ASK GOD TO FORGIVE MY SINS.
5.  PEOPLE:  I PRAY FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
6.  PROTECTION:  I ASK FOR SPIRITUAL PROTECTION FROM GOD.

Push Notification--Operating System Update

As we begin a new year, we’re going to update our operating system. New Day has undergone a number of assessments recently to help us stay on mission and clarify God’s vision for our future. In week one of Push Notification, Pastor Aaron will highlight New Day’s greatest strengths and weaknesses. He’ll also announce updates designed to de-bug our operating system.

KEY VERSES:

Romans 12:1 (NASB)  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual [GR, logikos: “reasonable,” “rational”] service of worship.

Romans 12:1 (MSG)  So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.