New Day Christian Church - Weston, WI

Gifts

God Speaks Your Love Language, Week 1—Gifts (Message recorded 2-24-2013)

People communicate love in 5 primary "love languages".  In this teaching, get an overview of the love languages, and insight into God expressing His love by giving good gifts.

Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

BIG IDEA: God gives GOOD GIFTS

Additional Resources by Dr. Gary Chapman

• The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts

• God Speaks Your Love Language: How to Feel and Reflect God’s Love

• The 5 Love Languages Singles Edition

• The 5 Love Languages of Children

Next Steps (For a more in-depth guide, visit newdaywi.com.)

1. Review today’s message by reading Matthew 7:7-11 (p738).

2. Go deeper by writing out James 1:17 (p930) and James 4:1-3 (p932).

3. Now write a summary of those passages from James in your own words.

4. Based on what you have learned, develop a tangible statement that you will put into practice. (I will…)

5. Who will you tell about it?

Our Greatest Fear - Commitment

Message recorded on February 10, 2013 God has a plan for our lives, yet we often choose to follow the plans of the world.  Instead of letting life happen to us we need to start seeking God!  By committing to Him first, we can learn His will for us "which is good and pleasing and perfect"!

Porn Sunday

Porn Sunday - Message recorded February 3, 2013 God is love, and love is the greatest law, yet we have cheapened real love in our culture by accepting cheap counterfeits.  Let's recognize the true cost of pornography and follow God's lead into a love that is real. Resources: XxxChurch.com Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle by Michael John Cusick Sacred Sex: A Spiritual Celebration of Oneness in Marriage by Tim Alan Gardner SettingCaptivesFree.com SafeEyes.com

Discipleship (Kickin' it old school)

Say What!? Week 5: “Discipleship (Kickin' it Old School)? Message recorded January 27, 2013 Are you a Christian or are you a Disciple?  By getting a better understanding of Discipleship, we get a better understanding of the life God planned for us.

Evangelical (That's a political party, right?)

Say What!? Week 4: “Evangelical (That’s a political party, right)? Message recorded January 20, 2013

Do you find that you hate religion, but strive to be deeply spiritual?  Do you distrust institutional leaders, but think Jesus would be a great guy to follow? If you answered yes, you might be an evangelical.

1 Timothy 4:16 (NLT) Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Video Link for the beginning of the message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyYFxp7apl4

What does Wikipedia have to say about “Evangelicalism”? Evangelicalism de-emphasizes ritual and emphasizes the piety of the individual, requiring him or her to meet certain active commitments, including:

· The need for personal conversion, or being "born again"

· A high regard for biblical authority

· An emphasis on teachings that proclaim the saving death and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ

· Actively expressing and sharing the gospel

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Read 1 Timothy 4 . How would you explain this in your own words?

2. What comes to mind when you hear the word “evangelical”? What about “evangelist”? Both words refer to sharing good news. How can the church be better at sharing the Good News of Christ? How can you be better at it?

3. Who do you know who needs to hear some good news right now? How can God use you to help them?

How to make change in the offering basket!

Say What?!  Week 3: "Tithe" Talking about money in church makes many people squirm, but when rightly understood it's simply about giving back to God--cheerfully, sacrificially, and regularly. Key scripture: 2 Corinthians 8-9 Three Characteristics of Giving 1.  Cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7) 2.  Sacrificially (2 Corinthains 8:3-5) 3.  Regularly  (1 Corinthians 16:2) Questions for Reflection and Discussion 1. Read 2 Corinthians 8-9.  How would you explain this in your own words? 2. What gets in the way of people giving cheerfully through the church? What challenges have you had in this area?  How do Paul words encourage you? 3. Who do you know who need help right now? How can God use you to help them?

Worship (Stand up? Sit down? Fight, fight, fight!)

Say What!? Week 2: Church Worship (Stand up? Sit down? Fight, fight, fight!)

(Message recorded January 6, 2013 )

Today’s Key Scripture: John 4:7-30

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Read Psalm 33 (page 427). How would you explain this in your own words?

2. What aspect of God’s character can you celebrate today?

3. How do you praise God?

4. What does it mean to you that we are to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23)?

Born again (I thought that was for weirdies?)

Say What!? Week 1: “Born Again”

(Message recorded December 30, 2012)

John 3:3 (NLT) Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are BORN AGAIN, you cannot see the KINGDOM of God.”

Today’s Key Scripture: John 3:1-16

Supporting Texts Include: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, 23

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Read 1 Peter 1 . How would you explain this in your own words?

2. What did you read that is something you could begin applying to your life today?

3. How would you explain what Peter means when he says “we have been born again” (v.3)?

4. Who do you know who needs to hear this message?

Making an Impact

The Spiritual Journey of Bilbo Baggins (December 23, 2012)

Matthew 5:16 (NLT)

“It was a good story, that of yours,” said Beorn, “but I like it still better now I am sure it is true…I have hurried home as fast as I could to see that you were safe, and to offer you any help that I can…” --The Hobbit, Chapter VII

KEY QUESTION: How are you making an impact on an unbelieving world?

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Read Acts 8:25-39. How would you explain this in your own words?

2. List what you see Philip doing in that passage that we can learn from today.

3. Have you ever shared your faith? Has anyone shared their faith with you? How did it go?

4. If someone asked, how would you summarize Jesus’ role in your life in two minutes?

Finding Nourishment

Matthew 13:21 (NLT) But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. “Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf and of good friends like Elrond go astray sometimes when you are off on dangerous adventures over the Edge of the Wild… --The Hobbit, Chapter III Key Question: How are you finding nourishment along your Spiritual Journey? Questions for Reflection and Discussion Read James 1:1-18. How would you explain this in your own words? Compare that passage to Matthew 13:18-23. What connections do you see? How do these passages apply to your life? What will you do about it? (Be specific.) Who else needs to hear about this? How will you tell them?