The Blessed Life: Heart Transplant

THE WARM-UP:
Is it better to give or to receive? Why do we have fences and alarm systems or even door locks?

READ Deuteronomy 5:29, Deuteronomy 15: 9-10 &14-15, Proverbs 16:2, Luke 6:38 & James 4:3
In the second part of James 4:3 God tells us that we don’t get what we ask for because we ask with wrong motives. Those wrong motives are so that we can spend what we are given on our own pleasures. We all like certain things, and we all have needs. God promises to care for our needs! When He gives to us beyond our needs, He expects us to share with others. Our attitudes toward possessions have a powerful ability to expose the true nature of our hearts. One key to having right motives is to renew our minds and to understand that selfish thoughts are more than just unkind; they are wicked. (Deut15:9) Think about a time when you lost some money. Maybe it was in the stock market, or a misplaced wallet or you made a bad purchase. What did that experience tell you about the importance of money in your life? Some people, have something similar to buyer’s remorse. We will call it “giver’s remorse”. If we give with expectations that God or the people we give to are going to act in a certain way, and then they don’t do what we expected, we are likely to experience “giver’s remorse”. That is why we must give with a cheerful heart and no strings attached.


THE TEAM WORK-OUT:
1. What is something you can do in advance of making a gift or offering to prevent “giver’s remorse”?
2. What are ways to make sure we are giving with right motives?
3. Now that we are halfway through this series, do you have any testimonies of how God has made changes in your life?

Video of Egg Drop

Here is a video of the April 4th Egg Drop.

Small Group of One!

This is just a funny video about a Small Group of ONE! Enjoy!

The Blessed Life: Breaking the Spirit of Mammon

THE WARM-UP:
Stocks are down, unemployment is up, and cars break down…What is your reaction to these situations? When these kind of financial setbacks occur, how can we look to God rather than men for provision?

READ Deuteronomy 8:18 & Matthew 6:24
Points to Ponder –
• The spirit of mammon says, “You don’t need God. Trust in riches.”
• Greed, covetousness and selfishness are all manifestations of the spirit of mammon.
• Sprit-led giving simultaneously diminishes Satan’s kingdom and makes us more like our heavenly Father.
• Giving is not a get-rich-quick scheme; it is a lay-down-your-life challenge.
• The spirit of pride says, “Wealth comes from hard work.” The spirit of poverty says, “Wealth comes from the devil.”
Mammon tells us that money is the answer to every problem. We often hear about “throwing money” at a problem to indicate that money can be the easy solution but not always the best solution.

THE TEAM WORK-OUT:
1. Can you think of examples when making more money available has led to disappointing results?
2. Are there aspects about money that make you afraid? What are they?
3. Would you continue to give tithes and offerings even if the only reward is your salvation through Jesus Christ?

Our Home TEAMS!

Last night, I was at one of our Home TEAMs and had a wonderful time! The people there were sharing in real community the way we hope it gets done in all the Home TEAMs! It was good to see the group planning how to reach out beyond the walls of their Home TEAM in much the same way 5 Point Fellowship as a church is attempting to reach out beyond the walls of our congregation! As our Home TEAM ministry grows, it can be tempting to hang out with "our group"! After all, we have invested time and energy in those people and they are now our friends. Don't forget that once you were strangers too! Reach out to include others in your Home TEAM. A while back, I mentioned the idea of "Operation Lunch". It was a simple idea, ask someone/a couple/family that you don't know to join you for lunch after church. Also invite someone who is active in your Home TEAM. That way, when later, you invite that person to Home TEAM, they aren't just showing up at someones house to meet a bunch of people that they don't know...they are seeing friends they already have a connection with. That is what Home TEAMs are all about; building connections. Have an Awesome week!

Thanks!!!

To all the Home TEAM people who helped out today for the Egg Drop! Thank you very much for all your hard work! We are estimating that over 10,000 people were in attendance! You all did an incredible job! Everyone I saw was having a great time! The kids had smiles on their faces, and I heard a few people talking about our church and wondering what kind of church we are. The day was beautiful! God helped out on that one! All the volunteers made the day an incredibly enjoyable time for me and all those in attendance! What I am trying to say is, GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!

The Blessed Life: Principle of Multiplication

THE WARM-UP:
Do you ever try to figure out in advance how God is going to provide for you? Can you give an example of how God provided for you and it wasn’t at all how you thought He was going to do it?

READ Luke 9:12-17
Points to Ponder:
• Something must be blessed before it can multiply
• Only what is given away can multiply
Notice in this scripture passage that Jesus prayed over the loaves and fish, but it wasn’t until the disciples began giving the food away that the miracle takes place. They kept giving and giving, and everyone was fed. If the disciples had tried to hoard the food and not give it away, the great miracle would never have happened.
“Worry” is what we do when we try to figure out on our own how God will take care of a problem in our life. He is ultimately in control of our life, so shouldn’t we trust Him to look out for us and give us what He believes is best for us? Most people find God when they realize that doing things their way only lead down a path toward destruction and misery. It is only through doing things God’s way that we find peace, joy and fulfillment in life. God’s way is to give of ourselves to others. When we give away our time, money, possessions, He promises to take care of us and to bless us just like He blessed the disciples when they gave away the loaves and fish. Note that they then collected many baskets full of “leftover” fish and bread.

THE TEAM WORK-OUT:
1. Why do you think people worry?
2. What are things that keep us from trusting God?
3. Can you think of a time when you gave something away and then God blessed you?