Verses Used:Philippians 2:1-11Romans 12:3aLuke 14:11James 4:6Takeaways:Gospel AttitudeIf the gospel is truly good news for us, and good news for every area of life, than it should impact our attitude.The gospel is good news and if we believe it, and live it our attitude is so much better.Our attitudes often get stinky when we don’t trust in who God is and what is now true of us because of the good news.A gospel attitude lets us live everyday situations with a better perspective.Be HumbleHumility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride tells me I am enough on my own. Humility tells me I need God and others.Let God do the ExaltingIt’s not your job to make you look good, it’s your job to trust God.Discussion Questions:What are some practical ways we could live others oriented?How might our attitudes change if we truly took an interest in others?What lie are we believing if we think it’s up to us to self-promote?What difference would it make in our lives if we have the attitude of Christ?

Verses Used:Philippians 1:27-301 Timothy 6:12John 10:10Isaiah 53:32 Corinthians 4:17Romans 8:18James 1:2-3Takeaways:We all face trials in this life and we can’t live this life alone. We need each other.Citizens of HeavenOur citizenship, when internalized, brings loyalty to our home. In the case of the kingdom of God, a loyalty to Jesus.Fighting TogetherMany in the church would rather fight against each other than fight alongside each other.Standing together with one spirit and one purpose. You are unified in spirit and in purpose.The church has to learn how to fight side by side for each other and not against each other.At the heart of disunity or division in the church is usually a broken relationship.Suffering TogetherWe identify with Jesus when we suffer as he did.Many of us don’t have a theology of suffering.We are called to face the struggles of this life together, not alone.Discussion Questions:Do you believe that statement is true? If so, why?Why is it so easy for us to turn on each other in the church?What would happen if the church committed to live in unity together? What kind of a church would that be?Can you think of a trial or hardship that you saw the church unite and go through together?How does seeing Christians “suffer together” communicate the gospel to others?

Verses Used:Philippians 1:12-26Proverbs 15:1Proverbs 25:15Romans 14:4Takeaways:Joy for Gospel BoldnessEverything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.Boldness for Jesus doesn’t mean we are belligerent with the gospel.The way we communicate a message can be just as important as the message itself.Boldness is taking action with the gospel in spite of the risk.For us, boldness might look like taking a relational risk. Speaking the truth in love.Wrong MotivesThey preach with selfish ambition, not sincerelyA judgmental attitude kills joyFocusing on the spread of gospel gives joy. Because it’s aligning with God’s heart.Joy in Life or DeathHis life was centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.The good news of the gospel is that we can have joy in life or in death. Because this life isn’t all there is. The next life is actually better!We can have joy amidst any situation. Because our joy is not dependent on our current circumstances. Our joy is rooted in Jesus.Discussion Questions:Can you think of a time that you had a judgmental attitude towards another Christian or ministry? How did it affect your heart?Why do you think it is possible to have joy over the spread of the gospel in spite of wrong motives?

Verses Used:Philippians 1:1-11Takeaways:Joy Looks BackwardsMost of the time when we don’t have joy, it’s because we don’t like our current circumstances.Joy comes from remembering God’s goodness to us in the past.We can experience joy by remembering. Joy looks backward.Joy Looks ForwardLooking forward to God’s completed work gives incredible joy.We are able to understand that we are works in progress. That God is doing the work.So rather than focusing on all the things in us that are unfinished, rest in the one who started the work of transformation in your heart, and the one who will complete it in the end.Joy in the PresentThe truth is, we get to partner with God’s work in us. We participate.I don’t try hard to be righteous, I am already because of Jesus.We don’t do good things in order to be better people - we are already righteous because of Jesus.Grow in your understanding of what is already true of you, so that the fruit of your salvation will be evident.Joy comes from looking back at God’s faithfulness to us.Joy comes from looking forward to God’s completed work in the future.Joy comes from realizing our present relationship to God because of Jesus.Discussion Questions:Why is it so easy to lack joy in our lives?How might your life be different if you lived with the joy that God wants you to have? What about your relationships?What kinds of things did you imagine the trinity discussing about you in our exercise?Did that exercise expose anything not currently true of you?What is true of you if you have trusted Jesus to be your savior?

Verses Used:John 3:1-15Mark 2:17John 5:25Ezekiel 36:25-27Takeaways:Nicodemus’ NeedJesus tells him what he needs: he needs to be born again.Religion promises to give life, but it is never enough. It ends up demanding our life.No matter where you are today, we all need help.From Death to LifeJesus was telling Nicodemus you have to move from death to life. It’s a spiritual birth.Life in the SpiritThe wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the SpiritTheir lives were a witness to an unseen realityDiscussion Questions:Why is it hard for some people to understand the concept of being born again?How do you know that God has given you a new heart?In what ways does your life currently reflect the kingdom of God? In what ways does it not?Can you think of a time that someone noticed evidence of the Holy Spirit in you? What did they say?Have you been born again? What is keeping you from doing so?

Missio Church invited Randy Japsers to speak this Sunday!

Verses Used:Jonah 1Matthew 11:28-29Jonah 4:1-3Stu left us with a challenge this week... Try Journaling every night for a week:When did I run from God today?What does he desire to transform in me?

Verses Used:Matthew 13:24-30;36-43Matthew 13:15Matthew 7:22-23Peter 3:9Takeaways:If the kingdom of God has arrived, why has it not triumphed over evil more clearly? If Jesus is the one announcing it, why is there not more of a positive response?The Presence of EvilThere are two kingdoms at war with each other and the battle is still going onThe Kingdom of God expands even under oppositionSatan attacks us by deceiving - he is the father of lies, discouraging - making you feel defeated or worthless, and by distracting- getting you to take your eyes off Jesus and look to other things.Weeds amongst the WheatOne of Jesus’ message in Matthew is that it doesn’t matter how good you are, how many good things you do, I want you to know me.Jesus is allowing for more time, for a greater harvest, before the judgment.The Final Harvest“Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”There are two different outcomes for the weeds and the wheat.Discussion Questions:Why do you think people get impatient with Jesus for not removing evil from the world?Does your heart reflect the heart of God for more people to come to know Him? What might need to change for your heart and attitude to reflect Jesus to those that don’t yet know Him?How does the thought of the final harvest, or judgment make you feel?Is it easy to tell who the “wheat and the weeds” are? Why or Why not?

Verses Used:John 10:9-10Luke 17:20-21Ephesians 6:12John 10:10Colossians 1:13-14Job 1:6-12James 1:2-4Ephesians 6:10-11Colossians 3:1-4Takeaways:Two KingdomsDualism is a belief that there are equal forces of evil and good in the world.The battle between kingdoms is for the souls of people..Life in the kingdom of God is abundant. It is dynamic and fulfilling. There is love, joy, peace, and all the other fruits of the spirit.Life in the kingdom of darkness is filled with broken relationships, lies, hurt, and evil of all kinds.God’s DevilThe devil is still God’s devil.God allows Satan to afflict people at times for reasons we don’t fully understand.We may not have all the specific answers to why God allows hard things into our lives, but we do know they build our faith and character.Jesus’ VictoryScripture reminds us that even when we feel we are losing in the battles of life, one day we will share in Jesus’ victory for the rest of eternity.In the battle of kingdoms, the most common strategy Satan uses against us is lies. It’s what he used in the garden with Adam and Eve, and he still lies to us constantly.Two Lies We Believe1. There is no spiritual battle.2. You can’t trust God.

Verses Used:Luke 15:1-2Luke 15:11-32Proverbs 14:12Proverbs 20:17Takeaways:The Younger SonSin promises to give us what we want, but ends up hurting us and others in the long run.Sin is like a mirage in the desert:We believe rage will make us feel better.We might believe that drugs, alcohol, food, or some other substance will give us the relief we need from stress.Some of us buy into the idea that material possessions, sex, or porn will fill our desires.The Older SonThe older son’s attitude reveals pride, resentment, and a lack of grace.Both sons wanted the Father’s stuff and not Father. They used the Father.The FatherThe Father’s heart is one of love and grace. The gospel is good news for those willing to repent.Repentance is a simple thing. It’s a change of mind and heart that leads to a change of behavior.Repentance is a simple thing. It’s a change of mind and heart that leads to a change of behavior.Discussion Questions:Why doesn’t the Father punish the younger son?What does the Father say to the older brother at the end of the story? Why is it significant?In your childhood, how did your dad respond if you made a mistake?If you make a mistake now, how do you believe God will respond?

Verses Used:Luke 5:12-15Luke 5:27-32Luke 7:34Luke 19:10Mark 10:45Matthew 11:19Takeaways: Jesus’ ExampleFor Jesus a meal was not just a meal, it was an opportunity for ministry.Meals are more than food. They’re social occasions. They represent friendship, community, and welcome.There are three ways we see the writers of the gospels complete the same sentence:“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many”The Son of Man came to seek and to save the ‘lost’”“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking.” The Guest ListThe Pharisees and scribes were focused on personal holiness above all else.Jesus was misunderstood for the company He kept.Jesus was separated from sin, but never isolated from people. Snapshot of the KingdomJosh gave three tips for doing an open table:Predictable Pattern - Make it a regular event.Let Others Bring Something - Others want to contribute and you actually honor them by letting them add to the meal.Keep It Simple -Don’t make this a big ordeal, the goal is relationships.Discussion Questions:Do you know any Christians who valued personal holiness above all else? How did you feel spending time with them?Do you have a reputation for hanging out with shady company for the purpose of showing them grace?What obstacles keep you from spending time with people that need Jesus?

Verses Used:Matthew 18:21-35Takeaways:70 x (+) 7 = A lotIn Kingdom life, there is no cap on how many times we forgive others.We are not bound to trust an enemy; but we are called to forgive them.Forgiveness of an unrepentant person doesn’t look the same as forgiveness of a repentant person.Unforgiveness can hurt others, but it hurts us the most.Freely Received, Freely GivenForgiveness can be freely received and freely givenGod’s desire is for His people to freely give, just as they have freely received.What’s the Big Deal with Forgiveness?It is impossible to have salvation through Jesus without understanding and experiencing forgiveness.Those who absolutely refuse to forgive may be showing that they are not willing to receive God’s forgiveness for their much larger debt of sin. This does not apply to those who want to forgive yet are grappling with it.Discussion Questions:Why do you think Jesus made such a strong statement that we need to forgive others?Have you fully received Jesus’ forgiveness in your life?Who might God be asking you to extend forgiveness to today?

Verses Used:Luke 17:20:371 Samuel 8:6-7Matthew 19:23-24Takeaways:Invisible KingdomJesus’ Kingdom on earth is not something we see with our eyes - it’s invisible, a spiritual kingdom.The Kingdom of God resides in the hearts of people.Living in the KingdomWe live in the reality of who God is and reflect His likeness to others.Longing for the KingdomDon’t be so busy living your life that you miss the KingdomDiscussion Questions:Who’s life is good news to the people around them, Frank or Jim? Why?Are you an accurate representation of God’s heart and character? What might need to change in your heart?What things do most people long for?How is longing for the future kingdom a good thing for us now?

Verses Used:1 Timothy 6:7-10Matthew 6:19-21Proverbs 11:24-25Luke 16:10-13Deuteronomy 8:17-191 Corinthians 11:23-25Takeaways:Being generous brings such joy to the person who gives and to the people who receive.We know that a culture of generosity in a church doesn’t just accidentally happen.If we live for the here and now, that’s all we get. If we live for eternity, we experience God’s blessing now and rewards in eternity.An Eternal PerspectiveWe brought nothing into this world and we take nothing with us when we die.When we learn to live generously, we are set free from the power of greed.If we start trying to calculate how much we are storing up in heaven based on how much we give now, that kind of defeats the purpose.Changing Our MindsLiving with a scarcity mindset kills generosityWhen I believe that I have enough I no longer have to hold on to all I have.Crazy GenerosityIt’s called the little-big principle. If I can be trusted with little things, God can trust me with bigger things.The more faithful we are with what God has given us, the more He will trust us with greater wealth to give away.God truly wants what is best for his people.God says:Remember where your wealth, your possessions came from. I gave them to you.Remember that eternity matters most. Don’t live for the promises of this life. It might seem like it will satisfy, but idols never do. They overpromise and under-deliver every time.Live generously and you will experience the most blessed life possible.Discussion Questions:What kinds of things do people try to store up for themselves on earth?Why is it so hard to live with an eternal perspective in this life?Why is it hard to live with an open hand?What would it take for you to believe that God has given you enough?What do you think life would be like if you could give away 90% of your income?Why do you think God tests us with little before giving us more?

Verses Used:Exodus 35:23-36:7Romans 12:3-81 Corinthians 9:6-7Takeaways:God Gives People GiftsGod still uses people’s skills to accomplish His purposes.God gives talents to everyone in some measure. God gave you your abilities for His purposes.It all starts with recognition that God is the giver of gifts.More Than EnoughGod is building His church and uses us - with our talents and abilities to contributeWhen everyone lives generously, there is more than enoughThe Right MotivationLiving generously with our talents comes from a heart that is ready to share them with others.We have the exact amount of talent that God intended for usOur talents are not meant to sit on the shelf, they are meant to be usedDiscussion Questions:What are some of the talents God has given you?Why do you think it’s hard for some people to take credit for their abilities?Why do you think God wants us to be generous with our talents?How does the posture of our heart affect the use of our talent?

Verses Used:Mark 10:46-52Psalm 90:10,12James 4:13-14Ephesians 5:15-17John 17:4Takeaways:Time is LimitedTime is short, but God gives us enough to live the life He intends for us.Our time is God’s timeGenerosity and PrioritiesBeing present with other people is possible when we manage our priorities.Discussion Questions:Why is it hard to live with margin in our schedules?What is your response to the statement, “Time is short, but God gives us enough to live the life He intends for us.”How does seeing your time as God’s time change your mindset?Can you think of an area of life that you could steward time more wisely?Can you think of an example of something urgent that isn’t necessarily important?Why is it hard to properly prioritize our time?

Verses Used:Jonah 4Samuel 16:7Luke 6:45Proverbs 4:23Job 1:21Takeaways:A Heart of AngerJonah’s anger came from a place of judgment and self-righteousnessGod was not operating the way Jonah thought He should. Jonah thought he knew better than God.A Heart LessonGod is sovereign over creation, He decides when to give and when to take away. God brings the plant and He brings the worm.God was dealing with his heart and trying to help Jonah see that He needed to trust in God even though he didn’t understand His ways.It is for God to give and for God to take away.Stop putting yourself in the place of judgment; that belongs to God.A Heart for PeopleJonah cared more about his personal comfort than other people.We won’t have a heart for people if we focus only on ourselves and our own personal comfort.Discussion Questions:Have you ever been angry with God? What for?How did being angry with God help your situation?Have you ever found yourself telling God what He should do? How did it go?Why is it hard for us to have a thankful heart in times of trial or suffering?

Verses Used:Jonah 3Takeaways:The Reluctant MessengerJonah was God’s mission while he was on God’s mission.God doesn’t wait for us to “arrive” spiritually before sending us on mission.The Repentant CityRepentance is not just feeling bad about sin, it’s about belief and behavior.The God of MercyThe Ninevites repented, so God relented.It was humans who changed their course, not God.The good news for us is that when we repent, we receive God’s mercy.The more we understand God’s mercy, the more we can extend it to others.Discussion Questions:What kinds of things do we believe disqualify us from being God’s messengers?How might God expose what’s in our heart while living on mission?Do you think behavior modification brings lasting change? Why or why not?Can you think of a sinful behavior that is shaped by a wrong belief?How would you define mercy in your own words?Is it harder for you to receive God’s mercy or to show mercy to others? Why?

Happy Birthday Missio!Today you'll hear the stories of members of Missio. Each story brings something different, but they all point to the Father.

Verses Used:Jonah 1:17-2:20Takeaways:Jonah gets a second chance.Prayer is often our last resort. Prayer is often the last thing we do when all else fails.God gives second chances even though we don’t deserve them.God gave grace to Jonah by giving him a second chance. God gives that same grace to us too.Jonah and Idolatry.If we turn to worship idols, we give something up. Idol worship costs us something.The good news is that we can turn from idols back to God and experience God’s best for us.Jonah is Rescued.We all need God to save us. Like Jonah, we need to be rescued too. Salvation comes from the Lord.Discussion Questions:Do you agree with the statement that idol worship costs us something? What is it?What idol is the most difficult for you to turn away from? Why is it difficult?