Wilshire Avenue Community Church: Recent Episodes
Wilshire Avenue Community Church
Message Notes
Children and adolescents are overwhelmed. We all can make a difference.
Romans 12:2
Declare God’s promises. (Out Loud)
Promises:
When life is unfair…God is good! Nahum 1:7 When life is scary…God is good! Psalm 23:4 When life changes…God is good! Psalm 106:1 When life is sad…God is good! Psalm 34:18 When life is good! God is good! Nehemiah 4:14
Give children the opportunity to have small wins.
Move a child from HELPLESS ------> HOPEFUL
Let the next generation take ownership.
Helping Families Find & Follow Jesus
Message Notes Reading for the week: Genesis 37-50
Change puts stress on the system
Genesis 37:4
A stressed system is vulnerable to an attack
How could i sin against God? - Joseph
An attack doesn't mean defeat
Genesis 39:2
During seasons of change do you feel like God is:
Against you? For you? Matthew 28:20 Genesis 39:21 Genesis 50:20
Final Thought:
How would I respond to change if I was confident God was with me?
Message Notes Ask God: What are you teaching me through this?
Acts 9:1-22
When you face seasons of change God will:
Grow you tremendously
Acts 9:22 Philippians 1:6
Never stop working in your life.
Romans 8:28
Use it for your good.
Questions to ask myself:
What change am I facing and need to embrace? What is God teaching me through this change? Who is walking alongside me during this season?
Message Notes You and I may never be asked to change the world, but we may be asked to change the world for one person.
What Can We Learn:
When God invites us to be a difference maker, He gets our attention any way He needs to.
If you think you have to get your act entirely together before Jesus will even consider calling upon you, think again. If you think you are safe from any further nudges from the Lord after you’ve made the decision to follow him, think again.
When God invites you to be a difference maker, sometimes you have to wait and sometimes you have to go. When God invites you to be a difference maker, be prepared to be taken out of your comfort zone.
Message Notes
Wrong Attitude of Service = Pride Why be a servant?
Mark 10:35-45
It is commanded by God
Luke 4:8 Luke 22:27
It demonstrates love It brings hope
What does being a servant look like?
It puts others first It is not always convenient It is not always recognized It takes action
Next Steps
Take S.H.A.P.E Test Attend Growth Track Classes Try out a ministry
Message Notes Give, Save, Spend
How do we spend what God has given us?
Spend it wisely, don’t fall in love with it.
1 Timothy 6:10 ESV Hebrews 13:5 1 Kings 17:10-14
Spend it as one who trusts God.
Philippians 4:19 ESV
Spend it in a way that blesses others. Spend it on others.
2 Cor. 9:6 Earn all you can, save all you can, so you can give all you can. - John Wesley
Life Group Questions Opening Question:
What do you feel like you tend to spend most of your money on?
Digging Deeper:
Read I Kings 17:7-24. What stands out to you in these verses? What step did Elijah ask the widow to take in faith in verse 13? What promise did Elijah make if the widow would be obedient to God in verse 14? What did the Lord do for Elijah, the widow, and her son in verses 15-16?
Life Application:
When it comes to money, would you consider yourself to be more of a giver? A saver? Or a spender? How have you seen God’s provision in your life? What does it look like to spend our money in healthy God honoring ways? Money itself is not evil it is the love of money that can be evil. How can we protect our hearts from falling in love with money? What are some ways we can spend our money that would get a return? After these past 3 weeks talking about our finances, where do you see God at work or challenging you? What next steps do you need to take?
Message Notes I Made It!
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
Matthew 25:14-21
Get Organized
Mark 6:39-40
Plan Ahead
Proverbs 6:6-8
Invest Wisely & Slowly
Matthew 25:23-27 Proverbs 13:11
Invest Ethically
Proverbs 13:11 Proverbs 28:20 Proverbs 16:8
Life Group Questions Opening Question:
Are you more of a planner or a go with the flow type person?
Digging Deeper:
Read Matthew 25:14-21. What stands out to you in these verses? What do you think is the main theme or the central point of this parable? What is the significance of the amount of talents being given to each servant “according to his own ability” (v. 15)? What does this verse teach us about God? What does it mean to you to be considered a “good and faithful servant”?
Life Application:
Share about a time when you felt like you were using your talents for the Lord? What were you doing? How did it feel? Why is it so important for us to use the talents God has given us? The last servant went and “hid” his talent. What is Jesus trying to teach us about this servant? What are some ways that we “hide” our talents today? What does it look like for you to invest wisely and slowly? What about ethically? As you think about the gifts, time, talents, interests, etc., that God has given you, what expectations might He have for your usage of them? What are some of the talents God has given you? What area do you struggle being faithful with the most? Where are some places or areas that God may be calling you to use the talents He has given you? What steps can you take to begin that process? How can you grow in generosity?
Message Notes
Put Him First
Proverbs 3:9 Matthew 6:21
Protect your Heart from Greed
Luke 12:13 -21
Protect your Heart from Greed… Be Rich towards God
Psalm 24:1
Test God with your Finances
Malachi 3:8-12 Isaiah 29:13
Life Group Questions
Opening Question:
Who is someone in your life you would consider to be generous? What makes them generous?
Digging Deeper:
Read Luke 12:13-21. What stands out to you in these verses? Why are Jesus words about money so appropriate for our generation today? What does Jesus mean when He says, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also”? Look again at verses 20-21. What does it mean to be rich toward God? What makes this man a fool by God’s standards?
Life Application:
If “life doesn’t consist in an abundance of possessions,” what does it consist of? Why do you think we tend to worry and quarrel over such possessions?
What does it look like to honor God and put Him first? If you were to look at your life and especially your time and money, who/what would you say you are honoring first?
Is there something you really wanted and then got it and now has left you unsatisfied? Why do we have a tendency to keep going after things that will fade away?
What are some ways we can protect our hearts from greed? How do we invest in “eternal things” that will never fade away?
Rob closed by looking at Malachi 3:8-12. Have you ever tested God with your finances? If so what happened? If not, what might that look like for you? What steps can you take toward this? How can your group pray/encourage you in this?
Message Notes
1 Peter 2:17
Honor Everyone
Romans 12:9-10
Honor the Family of Believers Honor those who Lead Outdo one another in showing honor
Romans 12:10 ESV Helping People Find & Follow Jesus
Life Group Questions Opening Question:
Who is one of the most powerful people you know?
Digging Deeper:
Read I Peter 2:17. What stands out to you in this verse? What does it mean to show respect?
Why would God mention the family of believers before mentioning everyone? Why do you think we are called to honor those who lead us?
Life Application:
How can power be used for both bad and good? What are some ways you have seen power used for bad? What about for good?
How do we see Jesus in the scriptures use the power he had? What can we learn from the way He used His power here on earth?
What does it mean to “outdo one another in honor”? What might that look like?
What are some practical ways to show honor to others? What about showing honor to our leaders?
What does it look like to be led by the Holy Spirit and the power that comes from the Holy Spirit? How can we work toward more of the Holy Spirit’s power rather than our own power?
Message Notes What are we thinking?
What kinds of thoughts are running through our minds? What kinds of thoughts are putting down roots What kinds of things are our minds really focused on? Why is it so important that we evaluate our thoughts?
Romans 12:1-2 Philippians 2:1-11
Be like-minded. Be humble-minded. Be Christ-minded.
Life Group Questions Opening Question:
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Digging Deeper:
Read Romans 12:1-2. What stands out to you in these verses? What does it mean to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”?
Read Philippians 2:1-11. What stands out to you in these verses? How would you describe the mindset of Jesus in these verses? How can we work to have the same mindset when it comes to our relationships?
Life Application:
What are your thoughts on the quote Mark shared from Ralph Waldo Emerson that said, “Beware of what you set your mind on for that you will surely become.”? How do you see this to be true in your life? The first point Mark shared was to be “Like Minded”. What does this mean to you? It was stated that this doesn’t mean “same minded”. What does it mean for us to be like minded but not same minded? The second point was to be “humble minded”. What does it mean to be humble minded? Why is this so important in our relationships? How do you see pride and ego ruining relationships? The last point was to be “Christ minded”. How do you see Jesus being our ultimate example when it comes to healthy relationships? What areas in your life do you need to work on to become more “Christ minded”? Mark challenged us to “move away from the self-centered compulsion and seek to have the mind of Christ, to serve rather than to be served, to build up the body of Christ, and to love others with the love of Christ.” What would our lives, church and community look like if we took this seriously? How can we move toward this mindset?