THE JOURNEY BEGINS
INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING BIG AND IMPRESSIVE IN THIS WORLD HE INSPIRES PEOPLE TO BE HIS PARTNERS IN DOING A GREAT WORK FOR GOD’S GLORY? • After God created Adam, He used Adam to name all the animals. • God used Noah to save the human race. • God used an old man, Abraham, to bless all the families in the world, starting with a miracle birth. • God used a slave, Joseph, to save the millions from starvation. • God used a shepherd boy, David, to establish a kingdom that would last forever. And God wants to use US to reach the world with the love of Jesus Christ, one person at a time, starting right here at home in South Orange County. God inspired our church to be born and to fulfill its vision: to be a multigenerational family connecting people to God and each other. We can’t escape it; we can’t avoid what God is calling us to do. It’s big. It’s scary. It’s going to stretch our faith and resources in ways that would seem crazy… if God wasn’t in it. But we believe that God fully is, and that He wants us to keep following Him to expand His kingdom by preparing the Dana Point campus at this time to be a great tool in God’s hands for decades to come. God is at work. He is inspiring us! It is INSPIRED because it is not of our own doing, but is a journey only God can take us on. It is “From Dust to Glory” reminds us of God’s transformational work taking us from the dust of creation to the glory we will have in Christ. God is the one directing this project. He breathes life into it. We pray that God would use this time to stretch and challenge each and every one of us! In Acts 1:8 Christ gave a “vision” to all Christ-followers: “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Life is no longer about us, but rather about reaching others for Christ.
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INTRODUCTION
As followers of Christ, we have encountered Christ. And as a result of that encounter, we are called to further God’s Kingdom in our sphere of influence by reaching people for Christ.
BUT WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU. Some might argue that that the economic climate and uncertainty in the world should cause us to hunker down, conserve and maintain. All of us have had to pull back and adjust to leaner times, but the God we serve is without limits and often does his best work during hard times. Remember Moses and the Exodus, Nehemiah and the wall, David and Goliath, Jesus and the cross. When God wants to accomplish something big, He’ll do it. All He desires are people who are willing and available. Look at this great verse from God’s Word: 2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” We are inspired by God! To abound, not just sometimes “but at all times,” even during lean times. I believe our best days are ahead. I believe we’re on the verge of watching God do something that’ll amaze us all—not because we want to become big—but because people need the Lord! Most of the people in Orange County don’t go to church and continue to drift away from God. People without God lose their way, marriages fail, families splinter, and young people self-destruct. God is inspiring us! We have the leadership, resources and window of opportunity to bring His light and truth to Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and the world beyond. He’s not inspiring us to hunker down, conserve and maintain, but to release what He’s entrusted to us for greater impact. Let’s do this together. I challenge you to take a look at South Shores Church’s vision for the future and engage on a journey with God over the weeks ahead.
OUR FUTURE IS AS BRIGHT AS THE PROMISES OF GOD!
Pastor Ty Guy SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
HOW TO USE THE GUIDE Just follow the tabs. 1. Vision: Get familiar with why we’re doing this in the first place, and
what’s included in the INSPIRED: From Dust to Glory spiritual growth journey. If you haven’t read the INSPIRED Introduction booklet then obtain one from connection corner, or download at our website. It has an inspirational video and FAQ’s.
2. Sermon Notes: Starting October 25 and ending November 22, we will unfold the heart behind this journey in the INSPIRED message series. Bring your Journey Guide with you each week to church to take notes as we focus on the journey of Abraham in the book of Genesis. You’ll notice that each week, there is a Family Connection portion on the notes. Use this as a conversation starter with your kids, because they are going to be involved in this at their level in weekend and midweek programming. It’s a family affair!
3. Small Group Guide:
This is a journey we are doing together, so we have designed questions for all existing or new groups to delve in further. These lessons are meant to follow each weekend’s message, starting October 25. Not in a group? Join our open session on Wednesday nights (in conjunction with our “Zone” kids ministry) or visit our website to find other open and new groups.
4. Devotional Guide: Start as soon as you like and kick start
your spiritual journey by reading 30 days worth of devotions focused around themes found in the journey of Abraham and other selected passages.
5. Prayer Guide:
Prayer is central to our spiritual journey. We are offering several prayer experiences taking place over the next few weeks that will strengthen us as a church and prepare our hearts for what God desires to do through us. Most of these can be done at your pace and pleasure.
6. Commitment Guide:
This section offers what you need to know in order to make a commitment to INSPIRED: From Dust to Glory by engaging your head and your heart. This will prepare you to thoughtfully and in faith make your faith commitment on Nov. 22.
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INTRODUCTION
YOUR DIGITAL COMPANION Be informed, be inspired and interact on the INSPIRED: From Dust to Glory website – your one-stop spot for frequent updates, resources, videos, personal stories and more.
www.southshores.org/Inspired or
www.InspiredFromDustToGlory.com
SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. GENESIS 2:7
VISION
INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
VISION
A MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO GOD AND EACH OTHER. Just as Jesus’ priority in His life and ministry was “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), so too our priority begins with connecting people to God through the saving work of Jesus Christ. At it’s core South Shores is a church that cares about people. For the past 60 years South Shores Church has experienced a unique calling from the Lord, a calling that has touched thousands of lives and connected them with God and His church family: In 2008 when the market collapsed I lost everything, including my marriage. I was left with my daughters and nothing else. We came to South Shores and we found a church family. As a family, we started to serve in the lunch ministry, to give to others. This helped us take the focus off ourselves and put it on to others . My daughters and I found a home here at South Shores – a place where we are loved, growing in Christ and serving. - David My family and I never knew what it was like to have a church family until coming to South Shores. The MOPS ministry has helped us develop lifelong friendships with other parents of young children. We now celebrate new babies, birthdays, dedications, fellowship and life together. For us, it started with MOPS, but we have become church members, participated in the Wednesday night Bible study and our son attends the South Shores Preschool. We have been blessed to experience love and kindness from our church family and our children get to grow up knowing the love of the Lord - Lindsay At the worst moment of my life, the death of my husband, God met my needs through His people, His dear servants. In the months of my grief God sent many from South Shores to help me. South Shores is truly a church family to those in grief and need. Being the recipient of such care I started a ministry to serve those in the same stage of life as me, widows. We call it GALS – Get A Life Sister. - Sharon
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VISION
I came to South Shores my junior year in high school. I got plugged in with high school ministry, CORE, and fell in love with it. I began to grow, attending REMIX and going to membership class. I have had several godly men take me under their wings, mentoring me. They have helped me become a better disciple of Jesus Christ. -Michael We came to South Shores from out of state. South Shores has been such a huge blessing. When I first walked through the doors the worship brought me to tears. We were overwhelmed by the move, but God used South Shores to provide a safe, welcoming place of connection. I serve with MOPS. I love those ladies and raising my kids with them. Wednesday Night at the Shores and Kids Zone has provided a great opportunity for us to grow in our marriage while our kids enjoy a wonderful children’s ministry. - Linsy I have been a member of South Shores since 2001, when I was baptized here. Early on I was asked to serve in Children’s Ministry. At first it was a request but then it became a calling. The Great Commission for me means teaching children. Every Sunday I invest in children, teaching them, loving them and encouraging them to memorize scripture. And every Sunday they bring me both to tears and laughter. I love South Shores Church. - Kim Our vision is to continue to reach people for Jesus by providing the rightly configured, functional and engaging campus plus the additional parking we so desparately need. These improvements will enhance our ability to create compelling ministry that the people in our community need to take their next step in discovering Jesus and participating in our church family. God wants to use us to touch, reach, and transform more people into followers of Christ, and so we will continue to grow, and that growth will require us to continue to be creative in providing the space and the ministries needed for generations to come.
GOD HAS INSPIRED OUR JOURNEY THUS FAR AND WE’RE READY TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD UNTIL JESUS RETURNS. SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
Two years ago, I came to South Shores with a broken heart, and a soul that had wandered away from the Lord. At the time, I didn’t know where my faith stood, or if I even had any. Upon attending my first worship service, I immediately knew I was “home.” I have gone through three very trying times in my life over the past two years, through which the church has become my family. They were there for us, giving us support, care and letting us know that we weren’t fighting these battles alone. There were people that we hadn’t even met, who rallied together and prayed for my family. This act alone had me in awe of how God pulls us all together and binds us as a family. The people of South Shores have forever changed my life. I can proudly say that my faith is now stronger than it has ever been, and there is no doubt in my mind of just how great our God truly is. I have South Shores to thank for this. It is a priceless gift that I have been given! I will forever be grateful to our pastors and for being able to call South Shores my family! - Kristin
OUR CHALLENGES • To replace inadequate spaces for all ministries. • To provide additional parking for worship services. We are at capacity at 9:30 and 11 AM services, forcing people to park on Crown Valley or go elsewhere. • To provide space for our Children’s ministry. Our current spaces are woefully inadequate and are not kid-friendly environments. They lack cooling and heating, audiovisual equipment and do not have the capacity needed for programming. Most of the current children’s facilities were built in 1972. • To provide space for our Youth ministry. Our current spaces are not youth-friendly environments. They lack cooling and heating, audiovisual equipment and the capacity needed for programming. Our current youth center was built in 1968. • To provide office space for ministries. Our current spaces are not suitable as effective work environments. Spread out over the entire campus, they lack cooling and heating, adequate space, storage and media access. Most of the offices are in the original Shumaker house, purchased in 1962.
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VISION
OUR PRAYER We are convinced that these challenges do not need to constrain or impede the work of Jesus on our campus, yet it pains us each time a car leaves our lot, because it was unable to find a spot, or a family doesn’t return because our kids facilities are not up to modern standards. Instead of settling for what can be done, our goal is to do the maximum ministry with the six acres at Dana Point, so if the Lord waits to return we will be here to serve our community as a light of the gospel for the next fifty years. We are ready for the next chapter in our history of touching and transforming lives to God’s glory. We believe that the time has come. Our prayer is that every person and family who call South Shores Church home will be involved in the INSPIRED - From Dust to Glory Journey through a process of sincere and diligent prayer, a willingness to be used by God and simple obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The first word that comes to mind when I think of South Shores is “passion.” Our church family is passionate about Christ, about His Word and about serving. When I first met Ty I appreciated his contagious enthusiasm, he is a “Big Kid” just like me. He is not bashful about communicating the ministry of South Shores and inviting people to be a part of it. Our family has been here for more than fifteen years. We have been part of small groups, men’s and women’s ministry, children’s ministry and missions. We love being part of this church family! - Mike We have been at South Shores for more than ten years. We are part of the second halfers. We love that South Shores is a multigenerational church. All ages, from nursery to youth, from young families to us, senior adults, are welcome here at South Shores. And we learn from each other, contributing to each other’s spiritual growth and growing in community. - Alan & Carolyn My family experienced some severe financial issues and I was left feeling fearful and desperate. I found myself on my knees asking God for help. God was waiting for me to seek Him. My South Shores Church family has been there for me throughout. - Barbara SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
OUR PROJECT After twelve years of working with the City of Dana Point to develop a Master Plan that meets the current and future needs of South Shores Church, the Dana Point Planning Commission and City Council gave us unanimous approval in June, 2015. The door has now opened for us to move forward with our project and we desire to walk through that door in a timely manner. As approved the project includes four new buildings and a double deck parking structure. THE FACTS • Our existing square footage on the campus is some 42,545 sq. ft. and our current parking lot provides for 228 vehicles. • When fully completed the new campus will have nearly 72,000 sq. ft. of ministry space and 364 parking spaces. We are replacing 24,000 square feet of well-worn, inadequate spaces with 53,000 sq. ft. of new space. •
The Ministry Center at southeast corner of property will house adult ministry meeting places, a prayer room, a large fellowship room, offices for our staff and an outdoor deck overlooking the ocean. Adjacent to it will be the proposed Prayer Garden. (13,867 sq. ft.)
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The Community Life Center at the north end of the property provides a meeting room for 800, allowing for church wide dining and fellowship events. It also providing a gymnasium for indoor activities to be enjoyed by all ages from our church family and community. (11,738 sq. ft.)
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The Spiritual Development Building 1 at the north side of Sanctuary provides space for our children’s ministry, with much needed space for nursery and toddlers. The lower level will house the South Shores Preschool. The upper level provides for Children’s Ministry as well as for some adult uses. (17,258 sq. ft)
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The Spiritual Development Building 2 is at the northeast end of property. It provides more children’s and preschool space on lower level, while the upper level provides for youth and adult meeting spaces. Adjoining this facility is outdoor playground for children’s ministry and preschool. (9,788 sq. ft.)
• The new Parking Deck will be built upon the current parking lot location. The main entrance will align with the current intersection. The second entrance into our property from Crown Valley Parkway provides direct access to the upper level. It provides 364 parking spaces.
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
New facilities will be an immense gift for our students and youth workers. It will give us more space, reliable resources, and room to grow. Can you imagine 300 students playing dodge ball in our new Community Center? Can you imagine a Youth Ministry meeting room specifically designed for youth with an inviting atmosphere for them to be with others? Our small groups, outreach events and our other activities will move forward toward our goal of reaching out to youth with the Gospel. Our new buildings will open new doors for us as we labor to help students know Jesus and make Him known. -Dana Dill, Minister of Youth Each of the new buildings provides adult meeting space for men’s, women’s and family gatherings, training seminars and on campus groups. Not only will their be more space but each space will have modern heating and cooling, state of the art technology (audio, lighting and media) and feature an exterior design consistent with our beautiful sanctuary. Our campus will become a wonderful gathering place for our community, one that is spacious and inviting. And, there will be plenty of parking! - Rob DeKlotz, Pastor of Community I have been Family Ministry Coordinator since 2008. I have watched this ministry grow and marriages and families changed through that growth. We are growing beyond the space we have on the Dana Point campus at this time. Our new buildings will provide additional space for us to reach out to all the new families the Lord is bringing to South Shores. It will also give us the opportunity to provide support for families that we have not been able to do so with the space limitations we have now. - Rebecca Perez, Family Ministry Coordinator I can’t imagine doing Children’s Ministry without rooms that are either too hot or too cold, with the wrong size chairs and tables, or on opposite sides of the campus, but I would love to try it! Our new buildings will have temperature control, age appropriate furnishings and convenient locations for nursery through fifth grade. This will change the way we think about Children’s Ministry. Currently 1/3 of our time and energy is dedicated to space planning, setting up and tearing down multi-use areas and problem-solving facility conflicts. Imagine what God will do in the lives of kids with these issues out of the way. I can’t wait to see! - Cami Marchand, Pastor of Children’s Ministry
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VISION
THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US Let’s dream big since we serve the God who breathes life into dust. To achieve the goals of INSPIRED we are inviting everyone to join us on a spiritual growth journey of prayer, faith, sacrifice and a whole new level of trusting God. Together we can provide the financial resources needed to accomplish the task, but it will take all of us walking in faith and obedience to God. We are asking every person at South Shores Church to be part of this journey and prayerfully consider a three-year financial commitment that is above and beyond their current giving. God-inspired vision requires God-inspired sacrifice. While each of us is not called to equal giving, we are all being called to equal sacrifice. Through the INSPIRED Journey, we believe God can accomplish more than we could ever imagine. At its core, INSPIRED is about much more than buildings or finances. It is a spiritual growth journey about opening ourselves to God’s life-giving direction as He takes us From Dust to Glory.
ARE YOU UP FOR IT? We encourage you to spsend the coming weeks asking God what part He would have you play in this historic season in the life of our church. Get started by praying along with our entire church body every day during the next several weeks:
GOD, HOW DO YOU WANT TO USE ME?
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Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” GENESIS 12:1-3
SERMON NOTES
INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
SERMON NOTES
INSPIRED - From Dust to Glory (The Journey of Abraham) GENESIS 12-25, HEBREWS 11-12
TAKE YOUR TRAVELING COMPANION ON THIS JOURNEY. Bring your INSPIRED Journey Guide with you on the weekends to take notes during the INSPIRED – From Dust to Glory sermon series: October 25 – November 22, 2015.
INVOLVE THE WHOLE FAMILY Adults are going on this journey in ways that involve them individually, in groups, and on the weekend. But this season in our church’s history involves absolutely everyone – all the kids and students are also learning about these things at their level in weekend and midweek programming. You can use the Family Connection conversation starters at the bottom of each sermon notes page to get together and discuss what you’re learning as a family.
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SERMON NOTES
SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
WEEK 1 - INSPIRED VISION October 25, 2015 / Genesis 11-13 BIG IDEA: God inspires Abraham to move away from his comfort (home/family) to go somewhere new to receive land, descendants and blessing. This wasn’t just a vision for a new way of living, but the inspired vision for impacting the entire world. Out of the dust of Abraham will come the glory of Christ. The People: Ordinary Dust
Genesis 11:27-32
• Terah __________ in Haran, dies, and returns to the dust. • What Abraham needed was a God _________________ vision.
The Vision: Blessing of the Whole World
Genesis 12:1-7
• This was the start of God’s plan of ___________________ in human history. • There is a _________ to following God’s plan.
The Glory: Beyond the Dust
Genesis 13:14-18
• God is ___________________ on each of us to do our part to fulfill the vision.
South Shores Church Family Goal
100% of us would be willing to ask God – “God, how do You want to use me?”
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SERMON NOTES
NOTES:
MEMORY VERSE: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
FAMILY CONNECTION: Preschool-K: What are you looking forward to doing this week? Grades 1-5: What about the future gets you excited? Grades 6-12: What shapes your vision of the future (friends, family, etc.)? What is God’s vision for your future? How might God’s vision for you differ from your own vision? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
WEEK 2 - INSPIRED PRAYER November 1, 2015 / Genesis 15 BIG IDEA: Abraham has bought into the vision, but he cannot conceive of how it will happen. So he turns to God in prayer. Through his interaction with God he listens and believes, even though he still doesn’t know how. God demonstrates not His exact plans, but that He is the One this promise is dependent upon. The Problem: No Child
Genesis 15:1-3
• Abraham can’t see God’s ________________, because he doesn’t yet have any offspring.
First Prayer: Will You Provide a Child?
Genesis 15:4-6
• Abraham centers his ________________ for offspring on God. • Abraham _________________ his timing with God’s timing.
Second Prayer: Will You Give Us the Land?
Genesis 15:7-21
• God assures Abraham that He is the ______ who is giving the land. • God has Abraham set up a __________________ ceremony. • God is the covenant ________________.
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SERMON NOTES
NOTES:
MEMORY VERSE: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6
FAMILY CONNECTION: Preschool-K: Have you ever talked to God about something you have been worried about or afraid of? Why is it important to talk to God about those things? Grades 1-5: How can prayer help us when we are worried about the future? Grades 6-12: How are we going to figure out our roles in supporting God’s work through this INSPIRED Journey? What kinds of prayers can we pray as we walk through the INSPIRED Spiritual Growth Journey? Lord, help me trust you. Lord, give me faith. Lord, grow my love for the church. SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
WEEK 3 - INSPIRED SURRENDER November 8, 2015 / Genesis 16-17, 21 BIG IDEA: Abraham (and Sarah) wrestle with how God is going to actually fulfill His plans – so they make their own plan. Through the process they learn the hard lessons of placing their plans in front of God’s and what it means to entrust all that they have to God. Abraham’s New Plan
Genesis 16:1-16
• Abraham and Sarah take _______________ into their own hands. • God always makes a __________ when there was no way. • Trust God not only to ____________ but to ________________.
Surrendering the Plan To God
Genesis 17:15-27
• God clarifies the plan, _______________ a son through Sarah. • Circumcision was a sign of _______________________ with the promises and plan of God.
Surrendering the Son
Genesis 21:1-21
• God doesn’t just make the plans; He is Lord over _______. • We need to surrender our plans and our ____________ to God.
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SERMON NOTES
NOTES:
MEMORY VERSE: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6
FAMILY CONNECTION: Preschool-K: God gives us everything we need. How can you show God that you know everything you have is really His? Grades 1-5: How does knowing that God owns everything you have change how you feel about all your stuff? Grades 6-12: Who are the people in your life who have modeled what it means to own or be part of a vision or purpose? What kinds of things do you believe in strongly enough to given generously of yourself to? What makes it difficult to surrender all of yourself to God? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
WEEK 4 - INSPIRED SACRIFICE November 15, 2015 / Genesis 22 BIG IDEA: Abraham has seen the vision, he has prayed and responded in belief, he has tried to work his own way with his own stuff and he has surrendered to God’s way and God’s Lordship. Now the question is – Does he have the faith that God will really complete the vision? God is going to put Abraham’s faith to the test – taking him beyond his comfort zone to inspire in him to make a sacrifice. But here is the key – God himself provides the sacrifice. Through the faith and sacrifice of His people, God moves the vision forward. God’s Test of Abraham’s Faith
Genesis 22:1-8
• Abraham’s test is to reveal his faith that God will ______________ what He has promised. • God often demands from us what matters ___________ to us. • Abraham trusts in God’s _________________ as a covenant keeper.
The Sacrifice
Genesis 22:9-14
• Abraham goes all the way, trusting God to ________________ a sacrifice. • Jesus was not spared because Jesus is the _______________ God provides for each of us. • God is calling on each of us to do something heroic – a ___________ commitment.
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SERMON NOTES
Moving the Vision Forward
Genesis 22:15-19
• God always accomplishes _______________ working through His people. Next Sunday – Faith Commitment & First Fruits Sunday Will you let Him work through you? NOTES:
MEMORY VERSE: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that you may abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
FAMILY CONNECTION: Preschool-K: Do you have things that you can share to help other people? Grades 1-5: What are you willing to give up to help South Shores help others? Grades 6-12: What are some of the hardest sacrifices you’ve had to make in your life? What type of sacrifices might you be willing to make to see the INSPIRED Vision succeed? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
WEEK 5 - INSPIRED COMMITMENT November 22, 2015 / Genesis 25 & Hebrews 11-12 BIG IDEA: Abraham, by faith, put all He had into the vision God had given him. He was fully committed until his death. Abraham was committed to the vision because he longed for the greater fulfillment to which God’s promises pointed. Staying committed to the vision was frequently hard. Abraham longed for the coming of God’s kingdom. He was focused on and committed to, not the dust, but the glory of God. Measuring a Life
Genesis 25:5-11
• Abraham was committed to the _____________. • Abraham moved the vision forward through his ______________. • Our lives will be ___________ by how we were part of God’s vision.
A Life of Faith and Commitment
Hebrews 11:1-2; 8-19
• Faith is the _________________ of things hoped for and the __________________ of things unseen. • Abraham and Sarah’s faith is a _________________ for each of us. • Let your view of _______________ affect how you live today.
Stay Committed
Hebrews 12:1-2
• Live in such a way that your eyes are always on the __________. 30
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SERMON NOTES
NOTES:
FAMILY CONNECTION: Preschool-K: What are some things that you can do to help God? Grades 1-5: What have you learned about God over the past 5 weeks? Grades 6-12: Where could you serve at South Shores Church or in the community? What gifts or talents has God given to you that you could use to help reach others for Christ? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. GENESIS 13:16
SMALL GROUP GUIDE
INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
SMALL GROUP GUIDE
A NOTE FROM THE SOUTH SHORES SMALL GROUP MINISTRY TEAM. As we consider God’s work in the Abraham’s spiritual journey we hope to hold up a mirror to the ways God wants to work in our church through: an inspired vision; inspired prayer; inspired surrender; inspired sacrifice; and an inspired commitment of faith. God inspired Abraham and used him to convey God’s saving purposes to the whole world, promises that were ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Today, we are also a part of that same INSPIRED journey as we: bear witness to Christ; grow in our faith; give to God all that we have; and are willing to go wherever God leads us in order that others too may be transformed from Dust to Glory. You will travel through four teaching themes: INSPIRED VISION INSPIRED SURRENDER
INSPIRED PRAYER INSPIRED SACRIFICE
LET’S BEGIN THE JOURNEY TOGETHER! We encourage you to go into this four-week study with an open heart and mind. Make the most of your discussions and be ready for God’s Spirit to lead you to exciting places and expand your vision for what He wants to do in you and through you. Our hope is that as individuals, we grow as authentic Christ followers and that together, as a church family, we will commit to furthering God’s Kingdom. Let the journey begin!
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SMALL GROUP GUIDE
INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR GROUP. 1. Take note of the timing. These group lessons are set up to help facilitate conversation and growth, and are designed to be delivered after the INSPIRED – From Dust to Glory weekend message of the same title (starting October 25). 2. Plan to make this study the priority for the next 4 weeks. In order to make the most of this spiritual journey, we strongly suggest that you take a break from whatever you are currently studying, and for the next four weeks go through this Small Group Guide. Meet weekly – this will also help you get more out of this study. 3. Get involved with the discussion. Engage with the questions and the conversations that result. The weekly themes will spark some great discussions. 4. Look deep into God’s Word to see the relevant details. What truths do you discover? Regardless of how familiar you are with the Bible, everyone can get involved simply by observing what the Scripture says. 5. Be mindful of how the themes go together. Take into account the synergy of the weekend messages, devotional guide, prayer guide, commitment guide and discussion questions; they relate to our lives, our church and our world. 6. Take time to reflect. What might God be nudging you to change in your life? Move from “knowing” to “doing” what God says. The goal of all Bible study and small group experiences is to bring about life change. 7. Be open and honest with each other. Share your questions and feelings within a safe and healthy small group environment. Remember to honor confidentiality.
SMALL GROUP STUDY FORMAT GETTING STARTED – Utilize getting started question to get to know
each other and connect with this week’s message. GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD – These questions will help you connect with our study of Abraham, and other key verses each week. Read the selected Bible passages together, and then discuss the passage using the provided questions. APPLYING IT IN OUR LIVES – Dive deeper into the week’s theme. Read the INSPIRED journy overview before delving into the questions that follow in this section. In addition to what you have just studied, look at your notes from the Prayer Guide and the weekend message notes as you answer the provided questions. PRAYER – Close your time together as a group with prayer. SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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WEEK 1 - INSPIRED VISION “An encounter with God radically alters your vision.” “Lord, increase our faith.”
GETTING STARTED...........................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN 1. The theme of this lesson is “A God-given Vision.” Often a vision begins because we have experienced something that moves our heart. Describe a moment in your life when you experienced something that moved your heart. (It may have been a homeless person on the street or a hurting friend at work.) What about this situation moved your heart? How did you respond?
GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD......GROUP TIME - 40 MIN Read Genesis 11:27-31; 12:1-7 & 13:14-18 (Personal Preparation)
1. Who was Abraham’s father? Who were Abraham’s brothers? Who was Abraham’s wife? Where was Abraham born? Where did Terah and his family go after leaving Ur of the Chaldees?
2. What did God promise Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, 7? How old was Abraham when he left Haran? Who went with Abraham from Haran to the land of Canaan? How do all these incidents and characters relate to God’s plans regarding His Kingdom?
3. How was Terah’s response to the vision different than Abraham’s? Was there anything extraordinary about Abraham’s qualifications? What would have happened if Abraham had stayed in Haran and not followed God’s vision?
4. In Genesis 13, God gave Abraham His promise for a second time. What further details are present in this promise? What was the scope of the promise geographically?
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5. What was the very specific challenge God gave Abraham? What sort of questions do you think were going through Abraham ‘s mind when he heard this? Read Hebrews 11:8. Did Abraham make a wise or foolish decision? Explain why or why not?
THE INSPIRED JOURNEY (Read Together) God inspires Abraham to move away from his comfort zone (home/family) to go somewhere new to receive land, descendants and blessing. This wasn’t just a vision for a new way of living, but an inspired vision for impacting the entire world for out of the dust of Abraham would come the glory of Christ. What changed in Abraham? Abraham had an encounter with God that dramatically altered his vision. No longer did he see life through his own eyes – he had been given a new vision; he had a new outlook on life; he had a new mission. Abraham’s life was never the same again following this new God-given vision. As we consider God’s work in the spiritual journey of Abraham, we hope to hold up a mirror to the way God wants to work in our church through: an inspired vision; inspired prayer; inspired surrender; inspired sacrifice; and an inspired commitment of faith. God inspired Abraham and used him as the means of to convey God’s saving purposes to the whole world, promises that were ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Today, we too are part of that same INSPIRED Journey. We bear witness to Christ, in faith, with all that we have, all that we are’ and wherever God leads us, so that others, too, may in turn be transformed from Dust to Glory. The goal of the INSPIRED Journey is this: For 100% of those who call South Shores Church home, to ask of God, “God, How do You want to use me?”
APPLYING IT IN MY LIFE..............GROUP TIME - 20 MIN 1. Describe a time in life when you had a clear vision (direction or goal). How did having this vision change your life? Is there a time when you did not have a clear vision? How was your life impacted?
2. How has knowing Christ changed your life’s vision? In what ways may God be stretching your faith right now? How do you know when God is giving you a vision for how He wants you to be a part of His Kingdom work and plan for the world? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
3. Read Hebrews 11:1. How would you describe faith? As we approach our INSPIRED Journey, God is asking all of us to take a step of faith. There are many instances in our lives where our faith gets tested, where we have to ask ourselves, “How much do I really trust God?” How have you responded in the past when God has called you into unfamiliar territory?
Journey Guide – As a group, take a few minutes to look through the INSPIRED Journey Guide. Note the various tools available – Vision Guide; Sermon Notes; Small Group Guide; 30-day Devotional Guide; Prayer Guide; and Commitment Guide. How can you use these guides in the coming weeks, both personally and as a group?
PRAYER TIME......................................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN God, please give us a clear sense of your vision and purpose for us, both as individuals and as a church. Encourage and equip us to follow wherever you lead us. During these four weeks help each of us to pray for one person who does not know you. Have everyone answer this question: “How can we pray for you this week as it pertains to the INSPIRED Journey?” Take time to listen to people. See if there is a theme, and through out the week pray for the group as a whole. Finish your prayer time by praying for the needs of those in your group. Take a few minutes to share prayer requests. Ask someone in the group to record your prayers so that in future weeks you can see how God is answering your prayers.
MEMORY VERSE “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
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WEEK 2 - INSPIRED PRAYER “Great faith may require great risk, but there is no surer risk to take than a risk of faith.” “Prayer is the means by which God’s people connect with God’s vision.”
GETTING STARTED...........................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN 1. Have you had an experience in your life when you had had to “move forward” in faith, not knowing how the situation would turn out, but knowing you had make a decision? What were the circumstances? What was the result? What did you learn from this experience?
GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD......GROUP TIME - 40 MIN Read Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 1:6 (Personal Preparation)
1. From these verses what do we learn about the vision and plan of God to reach the world? How was God’s vision expressed geographically? In what ways does the vision given here relate to South Shores’ vision? How is the vision expressed in terms of a spiritual pathway for followers of Christ?
Read Genesis 15:1-21
2. How did God speak to Abraham and what promise did He give him? In this passage what did Abraham do for the first time? What does the author remind the reader about regarding Abraham’s faith?
3. What problem did Abraham have regarding God’s promise? What solution did Abraham propose? What was God’s reaction to Abraham’s solution? How does God respond to Abraham’s immediate concern of the lack of an heir?
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4. Abraham’s dialogue with God regarding the problem of his and Sarah’s childless situation is an example of the kinds of important conversations between God and us. As Abraham talks with God, what happens in his faith and vision? How does prayer serve to connect us to God and His vision?
5. In chapter 15, Abraham’s second prayer relates to God’s promise of the land. What covenant does God make in relationship to the land? What is God’s covenant with Abraham and his offspring based upon? How is God’s covenant promise relevant and significant to what we are doing today at South Shores Church?
THE INSPIRED JOURNEY (Read Together) Abraham has embraced God’s vision, but he cannot conceive of how it will happen, so he turns to God in prayer. Through his interaction with God, he listens and believes, even though he still doesn’t know how God’s promise will be fulfilled. God does not explain His exact plans, but He emphasizes that He is the One this promise is riding on. If you believe in the vision of South Shores Church and the INSPIRED Journey, how are you going to be part of it? You too, must turn to God in prayer. Intentionally take time to interact with God regularly as to how this vision will become reality and how you can be a take part in it. Remember, God doesn’t have to reveal how, but He will reveal Himself and that will be enough. God will make you righteous as you believe in Him. Nothing great happens in the kingdom of God without prayer. Prayer is how we connect to the heart of God for our lives and our world. Our desire at South Shores Church is that each person will develop a healthy personal prayer life. We are encouraging our church to prayerfully consider what God wants to do through each of us during this INSPIRED Journey. Prayer is paramount to our faith journey, so open your heart during this lesson and allow God to stir your heart for prayer.
APPLYING IT IN MY LIFE..............GROUP TIME - 20 MIN 1. Why do you think it is sometimes difficult to make prayer a priority? What would happen if you allowed God to interrupt your schedule in order to pray more? What things are holding you back from making prayer a priority in your life?
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2. Do you ever feel like your prayer time lacks passion? Many times we feel like we should pray, but feel disconnected when we do. Why do you think this occurs? What makes your prayers passionate?
3. It is up to us to be faithful to do our part in God’s plan. Don’t get discouraged but keep walking forward in that vision. How are you going to discover your part in God’s plan? What will help you understand your role in supporting God’s work through this INSPIRED Journey?
Optional: If your group feels comfortable, have a few people share what their journey has been like as they have prayed the question we are all being asked to pray – “God, How do You want to use me?” Ask what they’ve been learning from God along the way. Journey Guide – Take a few minutes as a group to look through the INSPIRED Journey Guide Prayer Guide. How will you use this guide in the coming weeks, both personally and as a group?
PRAYER TIME......................................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN Lord, give us faith to leap out and take risks for your sake. Help us learn to trust in You and depend on You daily. You are the one doing the work; You are the one guaranteeing that the Great Commission will be fulfilled. Help me see how You want to work through me. Finish your prayer time by praying for the needs of those in your group. Take a few minutes to share prayer requests. Ask someone in the group to record your prayers so that in future weeks you can see how God is answering your prayers.
MEMORY VERSE “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6 SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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WEEK 3 - INSPIRED SURRENDER “God uses each us to carry out His purpose – for us to be in relationship with Him and with each other.”
GETTING STARTED...........................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN 1. Think back to one of the first major purchases you made in your life with your own money. What was the purchase? How did it make you feel to truly “own” something for the first time? How did you treat or view that possession differently from your other possessions?
GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD......GROUP TIME - 40 MIN Read Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-27 & 21:1-21 (Personal Preparation)
1. How did Sarah propose to solve the fact that she and Abraham were still childless? How did Abraham react and contribute to this sequence of misguided decisions? What problem arose after Hagar conceived and how did Sarah and Abraham deal with the problem?
2. What promise did the angel of God give Hagar? How was this prophecy fulfilled? What was Ishmael’s relationship to the promises God made to Abraham?
3. In chapter 17, in what ways did God strengthen His bond and commitment to Abraham? How did Abraham react to God’s renewed promise regarding Sarah and what request did he make? What name did God say Abraham should give his promised son and what promise did God make regarding him?
4. In Genesis 21:1-7, what promises and commands of God were fulfilled? Why do you think God have waited so long to give this promised child to Abraham and Sarah? What lessons did Abraham and Sarah learn through that extended time of waiting?
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5. What did God promise to do for Ishmael? After Hagar and Ishmael left, what serious problems did they face? Who did God send to Hagar and how was the problem solved? What promises did God reaffirm to Hagar?
THE INSPIRED JOURNEY (Read Together) Abraham and Sarah wrestled with how God was going to actually fulfill His plans, so they made their own plan. Through the process they learned the hard lessons that come when we place our own plans before the plans of God. They had to learn all over again the importance of trusting God. God has blessed South Shores Church with a 60-year history of lives being changed. Dedicated people who wanted to see God’s work done founded our church. They realized that God had a great plan for them but it was up them to carry out that plan. They had to become active participants in what God had called them to do. It was those people in 1963 who stepped out in faith and purchased our current property for $190,000. In the early 1990’s, those same people and others stepped out in faith again to build our existing sanctuary. Our prayer is that 50 years from now, we who step out in faith today as a part of the INSPIRED Journey, will be included amongst those past “heroes” in our history. While nothing can be accomplished apart from the work of God’s Spirit in us, we have responsibility as well. We need to claim ownership of the vision God has called us to. As a church, we are committed to seeking God’s direction and wisdom. As we sense God’s Spirit directing us, it is vital that we walk in obedience. Every individual must be committed to seeking God’s direction and then to acting in obedience in a manner that brings glory to God. Just as it was with Abraham and Sarah, when we try to circumvent God’s timing and planning, we come up with our own plans and ways that fall short of God’s intention. Without God’s guidance they’re not inspired; they’re inflated. They’re not God-breathed but are man-achieved. We must trust in His plan.
APPLYING IT IN MY LIFE..............GROUP TIME - 20 MIN 1. Read James 4:13-17. What is the relationship between our plans and God’s will? When we ignore God and make our own plans, what are we doing? When we put God first in our lives and yield our will and plans to His Lordship, what happens?
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2. How can we demonstrate our trust in God as the One who provides? How is God working in your life to help you be a steward of what the Lord has entrusted you with – your time, talent and treasures? Where do you find it challenging to submit your life, career, and possessions to God’s Lordship?
3. How are you willing to surrender yourself, your plans, and your “stuff” to God? Are you willing, in prayer, to ask God how He wants you to be a part of INSPIRED? In what areas of your life does the Great Commission need to become more important than anything that might be a hindrance to you participating in INSPIRED?
Journey Guide – Take a few minutes as a group to look through the INSPIRED Journey Guide Commitment Guide. How will you use this guide in the coming weeks, both personally and as a group? How can it assist you in thinking about what God wants you to do as we draw closer to Commitment Sunday?
PRAYER TIME......................................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN God, we know that the vision You are calling us to requires not only great faith but also ownership. Help us to invest ourselves in the mission of the church, knowing that greater joy and purpose are the result of ownership of a God-sized vision. Help us to be good stewards of the resources You have entrusted us with. Guide us as we seek to invest them wisely in Your kingdom work. Finish your prayer time by praying for the needs of those in your group. Take a few minutes to share prayer requests. Ask someone in the group to record your prayers so that in future weeks you can see how God is answering your prayers.
MEMORY VERSE “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6
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WEEK 4 - INSPIRED SACRIFICE “A sacrifice on earth is a deposit in eternity.”
GETTING STARTED...........................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN 1. Think of a time in your life when you sacrificed immediate reward for long-term results? What do you think holds most people back from living a life of sacrifice? What was one of the toughest sacrifices you or your family has ever had to make? Why was it difficult?
GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD......GROUP TIME - 40 MIN Read Genesis 22:1-19 (Personal Preparation)
1. What final test of his faith did God give Abraham? List at least four reasons why this would have been hard for Abraham to do. What did this test reveal about Abraham’s faith in God?
2. What did God say regarding Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac? How did all the previous faith-building trials that Abraham went through prepare him for this ultimate test?
3. How did God provide for Abraham at this most crucial moment? How did God demonstrate that He was going to be faithful to His covenant promise?
4. What similarities do you see between Isaac and Jesus’ stories? What differences do you see in these two stories? Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” What do we gain if we sacrifice our own ambitions and goals to follow God’s plan?
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5. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7. This passage encourages us to “grow in the grace of giving.” What does that phrase mean to you? How is giving with this kind of mentality different than giving out of obligation or duty? In the past, what has been your attitude toward this kind of sacrifice?
THE INSPIRED JOURNEY (Read Together) Abraham saw the vision, he prayed and then he responded in belief. He tried to work his own way with his own “stuff,” but he had to surrender to God’s way and God’s Lordship. God put him to the test; taking him beyond his comfort zone to inspire in him to make a sacrifice. But here is the key – God himself provided the sacrifice. Through the faith and sacrifice of his people, God moves the vision forward. We’ve seen the vision. We’ve prayed and begun to respond in belief. We have surrendered our own ways and we recognized all we have come from God and belongs to Him. The question is – Do we have the faith to complete the vision, to give sacrificially and heroically to God’s plan? When we willingly sacrifice something that is important to us for God’s purposes, God finds delight in us. The funny thing is as time goes by, we may find that we no longer miss what we sacrificed. In fact, we will likely be more satisfied after the sacrifice than we were before. True sacrifice requires utter dependence on God, trusting that He will provide for whatever it is we need. This is a great opportunity to outwardly show our inward faith through sacrifice. We move forward in faith, not in ourselves or in our finances, trusting God will provide what we in faith commit to. Where God guides, He provides. Will you trust Him? What would it look like if our church began to sacrifice greatly in order to see the message of Christ spread to our community? Open your heart this week and allow God to speak to you and lead you in this area of sacrifice.
APPLYING IT IN MY LIFE..............GROUP TIME - 20 MIN 1. Looking at Abraham’s obedience, what can be said about people who postpone or neglect to obey God? What sacrifices does God expect us to make for Him? If Abraham is an example of faith, what can we learn from his life about the relationship between faith and obedience?
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2. What are you holding on to right now that might be keeping you from a closer relationship with God? What is the greatest fear you need to overcome in order to begin to give sacrificially? What is one thing you are willing to sacrifice in order to be more generous?
3. “We tend to be impressed with the amounts that people give. God is impressed with the heart that we give it with.” What is your response to this thought? One of the important principles regarding giving is this – “Not Equal Gifts, but Equal Sacrifice.” What does this statement mean to you? How will you decide what a sacrificial gift means to you?
Journey Guide – Walk through the INSPIRED Journey Guide Commitment Guide section this week. Include your spouse and family if applicable. This weekend, November 22, we are asking each individual to come ready to offer their INSPIRED First Fruits offering and their three-year Faith Commitment. Take time to reflect on how God has been guiding you through this INSPIRED Journey and listen for His voice. How is God leading you to sacrifice for the work that He wants to do in and through this church?
PRAYER TIME......................................GROUP TIME - 15 MIN God, we admit that sacrifice is a frightening thing but we know that a sacrifice for You here on earth is an investment for eternity. Give us the faith and courage to respond to how Your Spirit has been guiding us over the past four weeks, so that Your Kingdom would expand in our community. Give us a willingness to ask the simple question that has been our theme for these last four weeks – “God, how do You want to use me?” Sacrifice is hard and we are going to need God’s strength. Share with your group areas where you need God’s strength. Finish your prayer time by praying for the needs of those in your group. Take a few minutes to share prayer requests. Ask someone in the group to record your prayers so that in future weeks you can see how God is answering your prayers.
MEMORY VERSE “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that you may abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. GENESIS 13:16
3 0 D AY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
INSPIRED JOURNEY GUIDE
3 0 D AY D E V O T I O N A L G U I D E
BEFORE WE BEGIN Paul challenged the church in Corinth to “trust the power of God rather than human wisdom” (1 Cor 2:5). As a church, we’re getting ready to move forward together into a new phase of ministry. It’s a place we’ve never been before, but like Abraham, we have sensed God’s leading and desire to follow Him. We’re asking you to join us in this journey—to spend time alone with God over a period of 30 days and let God speak directly to you through His Word and your times of prayer.
OUR HOPE Our hope is that through these devotion times your relationship with Jesus Christ will deepen. God loves when we spend time with Him! As you seek His guidance on behalf of our church, we hope that you will find yourself more committed to His leading and His purpose for your life.
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3 0 D AY D E V O T I O N A L G U I D E
A FEW TIPS FOR YOUR DEVOTIONAL TIME 1. You may start this portion of the Journey Guide at any time after you receive it. Do it each day. Our goal is to finish the Guide together the week of November 22. 2. Keep it simple. Your goal isn’t to race to “finish,” but to spend some consistent, quality time communicating with God. Use the journal to track your thoughts. 3. Consider how you can do the recommended daily action item, and memorize the weekly verse. 4. This journal offers a study guide we hope you’ll find helpful: SCRIPTURE: Read the passage assigned for the day. APPLICATION: Reflect on how the passage is significant for you, and how you can put into practice what you’ve just observed. PRAYER: • Personal Prayer – Write a short prayer related to what you’ve just read and observed. • Intercessory Prayer – Choose one person you will bring before God. Write down the name every day and pray for this one person every day of this 30-day journey. Feel free to add other persons or situations to this list and note any specific thing the Holy Spirit prompts you to pray for regarding them. • Communal Prayer – Join us in a guided prayer for our church and each other. ACTION STEP: Follow the step suggested for each reading.
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DAY 1 - THE GREAT COMMISSION SCRIPTURE: MARK 16:15-18 Jesus’ disciples start from a place of doubt. Encountering the Risen Lord must have left them both joyful and terrified. After Jesus calls them He preemptively addresses their fears by giving specific examples of how He will care for them. God remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14), so along with His call He assures us of His presence. We don’t have to be afraid to journey with God because His power protects us and enables us to accomplish whatever He asks of us.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: (see Action Step) Communal Prayer: Father, may we realize that our inheritance and hope as a church family is in God’s incomparable great power, which is available to us. (Gal. 1:12; Eph. 1:1819; Phil. 3:10)
ACTION STEP Who in your life is far from God? Pick one person that you know needs to hear about Christ and commit to pray for them for one minute for the next 30 days. Write down the name of the person above along with one specific thing you’ll pray for them today.
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DAY 2 - BLESSED TO BLESS SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 12:1-3 At the start of the journey, God tells Abraham to go and He will bless him in order to bless the world. Abraham brings all he owns and follows God. He could not have known that through his obedience God would give the world a Savior. It was a plan too grand, too glorious for any person to have imagined. Like Abraham, we can’t always see the big picture, but our trusting God brings unexpected blessing to us and those around us.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: (Write the name of person(s) you have committed to pray for each day of this journey.) Communal Prayer: Father, give our church your direction and vision. Nourish us from your word. As we journey with you, be attentive to our needs as we attend to the needs of other. (Psalm 119:9-12; Matt. 18:20)
ACTION STEP Are you fully living for Christ? If you are, in what ways does your new life in Christ look different from your old life? If you are not fully living for Christ, what is one thing you can do over the next thirty days to take that step?
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DAY 3 - TRAVELING TOGETHER SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 12:4-6 & 17:15-16 When Abraham comes into the land of Canaan, he is not alone. His wife, Sarah, comes with him. Along the way, she endures the challenges of the journey, but also receives her own blessing. When we journey with God, we are to consider those who come with us. If we are a reluctant traveler, God wants us to know the journey is His invitation to experience His care and blessing.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, Give us the passion and courage to follow You in all areas of our lives. Give us excitement for the journey and a willingness to experience all You have for us. (Isaiah 1:19)
ACTION STEP Talk to your family about taking this journey together. It’s okay if you don’t know what that means yet. What concerns do you and they have about trusting God at a deeper level?
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DAY 4 - LOVING EACH OTHER SCRIPTURE: 1 JOHN 4:7-21 Our walk with God is personal, but it is also communal. Our spouses, our children, our church family are all in this faith journey with us. 1 John reminds us that whatever happens along the way, love is to be the mark of our speech, attitude and actions.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we pray against gossip, negative criticism, false expectations, unhealthy burdens, strife and weariness that will seek to invade our church family. Make our church one that is known by our love for each other and Your world. (Psalm 91:5-6, 11; Luke 10:19; Eph. 4: 17, 32-5:1)
ACTION STEP Do you believe that love is a choice or an action rather than a feeling? Who is one person that you are going to choose to love (even though they might be hard to love) and what is one action you can take to show the love of Christ to them?
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DAY 5 - UNCERTAINTY SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 12:7-10 Though Abraham is in the land God has promised, he is uncertain where to settle and what to do. So he builds an altar. He worships. He’s doing all he knows to do to follow God, yet without clear guidance, continues traveling. When trouble comes, he leaves the land. But Abraham continues to hold to God’s promise and in time, God’s Word brings him back. God is not panicked by our wanderings. Uncertainty is part of the journey and requires that we keep trusting, keep discerning and keep returning to God’s Word.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we commit our church to focusing on the Supremacy of Christ in our teaching and practice. We acknowledge our dependency on You to guide us and trust that as we hold to Your Word, You will keep us where we need to be. (Gal. 6:14; Col. 1:15-17)
ACTION STEP Describe a time you feel you got off track spiritually. What brought you back?
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DAY 6 - THE GIFT OF WISDOM SCRIPTURE: JAMES 1:2-6 The wisdom of God is what enables us to face trials calmly. God’s wisdom speaks to every part of our lives—how we make decisions, how we approach others, how we view ourselves and how we accumulate and dispense the resources He gives us. God not only promises to give us all we need to handle life, He does it lavishly and joyfully. What He does ask of us is to make our requests in faith without doubting.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father we ask that You give wisdom to our pastors, staff and leaders as they guide us. Give them discernment to recognize and prioritize what is important and precious. (Isa 6; 2 Cor. 11:14; 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 John. 4:1; Rev. 4)
ACTION STEP How do you treat others when they come to you for help? Does it reflect how you think God responds to you? Think of one person who needs your help this week and joyfully offer to help them.
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DAY 7 - FAITH SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 11:1-12 The men and women listed in the Faith Hall of Fame weren’t perfect but they were obedient. God called them to do something others deemed impossible and they determined to do it. What gave them the courage to do this? They believed God. They risked their lives and futures because they were convinced of God’s trustworthiness. God has the power and resources to accomplish His purposes and He rewards those who partner with Him.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, give us the courage and will to do what You’ve called us to do. You say You are with us and if You are with us, we can accomplish the task before us. We submit all we are and all we have to You, mindful that our strength comes from You, and not from our own abilities. (Joshua 1:9)
ACTION STEP God puts us in situations where whether or not we believe Him becomes evident. Write down a time that you trusted God. Today, what is God asking you to believe Him for?
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DAY 8 - A GENEROUS SPIRIT SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 13:1-11 There is tension in the family. People have gotten sideways over the everyday tasks of managing wealth and households. Abraham, as patriarch, had the right to impose his authority over his nephew, but instead he chooses the way of peace. He allows Lot to make a choice that at first seems to put Abraham at a disadvantage, but it is never a mistake to go above what is required to be fair and kind. Abraham exhibits a generosity of spirit that reflects the kind of attitude Christ calls each of us to have.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we pray that our leadership would exhibit Christian character and integrity in all their relationships and dealings in life. May they be examples for our church that encourages us toward peaceful relationships within our families and neighborhoods. (Micah 6:8)
ACTION STEP Is there an area of conflict with someone close to you? Are you willing, like Abraham, to forgo your right to impose your will for the sake of peace? Why or why not?
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DAY 9 - UNITY SCRIPTURE: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-23 Twice Paul mentions evil in the context of how we Christians live our lives. Evil wins when we fail to respect each other: when we are impatient, negative or angry. Nothing we do as individuals or as a church is so important that it justifies being unkind or disrespectful to each other. Unity. Love. Peace. Gratitude. These are the marks of a church living in the glory of God’s grace and the most powerful witness we can offer our world.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, make Your church a community of grace and forgiveness. Let our gratitude for Christ’s work in us make us a place of encouragement, a place that extends genuine hospitality to all who come through our doors. (Rom. 15:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:16-17)
ACTION STEP What causes you to be impatient with others? How does it manifest itself? Ask God to show you one person you need to repair a relationship with. Contact them and say something kind (and true) that will help restore peace between you.
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DAY 10 - FAITHFUL IN THE SMALL SCRIPTURE: LUKE 16:1-3 There is a connection between how we handle money and our spiritual condition. It has nothing to do with quantity. It has everything to do with character. How we spend money reveals our capacity to handle spiritual responsibilities. Money can become our master, enticing us to expend resources without regard to God’s concerns. The believer recognizes that God alone gives health, mental capability and the opportunity to earn wealth. A faithful person will deal honestly in everything and give generously to things that have value to God.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, as a church we want to represent You well among the members of the city, business communities and neighborhoods we’ll interact with as we build. Give us gentle spirits. Give us favor in their eyes and forge bonds of respect and friendship between us. (Matt. 5:16)
ACTION STEP In what ways have you been faithful with what God has entrusted to you (whether large or small)? In what ways have you NOT been faithful or contributed to God’s kingdom with what God has entrusted to you? What small step can you take to benefit others with your resources this week?
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DAY 11 - PERSISTENT PRAYER SCRIPTURE: LUKE 11:1-13 Jesus’ story about a neighbor in need immediately follows the Lord’s Prayer. This is not accidental. Those who know God as Father will be called upon to give. Giving is not always convenient. The man with bread was annoyed to be disturbed so late at night but in the end, he helped because his neighbor would not be dismissed. We benefit from being persistent in prayer. In turn, we may be the answer to another’s prayer. Like Abraham, we are blessed to bless others. As we take our concerns to the Lord, our heavenly Father makes us aware of the hurting people around us. He expects us to respond to them with the same compassion He’s shown for us.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, continue to lead us into a growing, consistent walk with Christ. Reveal to us the power of a devotional and prayer life that is steadfast. May we welcome Christ and His work into our lives. Grow us up in faith, character, maturity and love. (Psalm 16:8-11; 73:28; Rom. 8:31; 2 Pet. 1:5-7)
ACTION STEP Persistence and boldness in our prayers allows God to work in our lives—we just have trouble recognizing it at times. What are you asking for that is requiring consistent prayer? Ask God for the gift of answering someone else’s prayer today.
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DAY 12 - BELIEF SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 15:1-6 In response to his generosity toward God in Genesis 14, God visits Abraham to assure him of protection and repeats His promise. Abraham’s reply is indifferent and we realize God’s words have reopened a deep wound. Abraham wonders how can he be the father of a great nation when he has no heir? He lets God know he’s given up. But for the first time, God says plainly that the heir will be Abraham’s son – his own flesh and blood. Abraham still doesn’t understand and everything inside him screams, “This is impossible!” but he chooses to believe God. Abraham’s generosity wasn’t an attempt to manipulate God, but actions that flowed from his close relationship. Expressing our commitment to God, especially in seasons of doubt, opens the door for God to speak to us.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we ask for healing, forgiveness and reconciliation for any misplaced expectations, criticism, ungrateful attitudes, flawed thinking, grief, hurts and abuse people in our church have experienced. (Isa. 61:3; Mark 11:22-24, 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Eph. 4:32-5:1; Phil. 4:19)
ACTION STEP Unmet expectations can discourage us in our journey. Is there anything you feel God has promised you that you’ve not yet received? What do you sense God is saying to you about it through today’s reading? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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DAY 13 - MIRACLE WORKER SCRIPTURE: MARK 8:13-25 In the first part, Jesus reminds the disciples how He fed thousands of people with a few loaves and fishes. The disciples had been there, yet continue to doubt at the first sign of need. They are blind to the power of God. In the second part, they go to Bethsaida where Jesus heals a blind man. The man doesn’t see immediately; he just follows Jesus and allows Him to do whatever He wants. At last, he sees. Things become clear. Together, these stories remind us that though we are prone to forget, Jesus is always going about His Father’s business. If we stay close to Jesus, He will continue to reveal Himself to us.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Lord, we pray You will help our church to recognize You and Your work around us. May we see Your glory in the faces of the men, women and children we touch each week. (Genesis 33:10)
ACTION STEP Write down one or two things God has done for you in the past. This journey is an opportunity for God to do a new work in your life. Ask God to help you see Him and recognize what He is doing around and in you.
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DAY 14 - GOD’S PART SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 15:7-18 This Ancient Near Eastern ritual was a blood covenant. Both parties were to pass between the severed animals as a sign that the terms of the agreement could never be broken. Here, God is the only one who “walks” through. Though God has given the land to Abraham, God assumes all responsibility for making it happen. There are parts of the journey that demand our participation, but when undertaking a task for God that is beyond us, God alone can bring it to pass. Nothing, not hard times, nor mistakes, nor the passing of generations can keep God from fulfilling His purposes. Our task is to join and trust in what He is doing.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, forgive us for playing god, for attempting to do what You have taken responsibility for. As a church, draw us into prayer so we can discern our role and embrace it. Show us what You want to accomplish through us and our church. (Isa. 14:24, Isa. 55:11)
ACTION STEP What in your life do you sense God telling you He is responsible for? Will you give it to Him? What does He ask you to do?
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DAY 15 - SURRENDERING PLANS SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 55:8-13 One of the hardest things to accept in our life journey is that things often do not work out as we’d hoped. But God is in control and He turns our ashes into gold, our dirt into glory. His way turns painful thorns into giant cypress trees known for their longevity, height and beauty. Briers become the fragrant myrtle. God’s way is seldom what we envision but it fills us with joy, peace, strength, beauty and life in ways that sings of God’s grace and mercy.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we pray against any discouragement or disappointment our leaders may be experiencing. Give them an increase of vitality, strength and vision personally and collectively that will revitalize us as a caring committed community for God’s Kingdom and purpose. (Isa. 61:3; Rom. 12)
ACTION STEP What in your life has not turned out as you hoped? Are you willing to believe God can make something beautiful out of it? If you’ve already experienced this, offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
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DAY 16 - MISTAKES SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 16:1-16 When Sarah’s maid becomes pregnant, the dynamics of the household change. Even before the child is born, it’s clear they have created a situation that will divide Abraham’s loyalties and fuel discord in his home forever. Yet, none of this disqualifies him from the journey or thwarts God’s plan. Our relationship with God is lived out in the realities of life. Passages like this one show us God is patient and faithful regardless of what we do. We may complicate our lives. We may make choices that will cause heartache, but God’s commitment to us remains. He walks beside us and will do what He’s determined will be done in our lives, our church, our community and our world.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we confess and repent of any wrongdoing, false dependencies, misplaced ideas and loss of spiritual passion. Help us accept the forgiveness You offer. (Luke 13:1-3; Acts 2:38-39; Rev. 2:5-6)
ACTION STEP Have you made a choice you feel disqualifies you from serving God? Write out Philippians 1:6.
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DAY 17 - SURRENDERING RESOURCES SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 25:14-29 God knows we are not equal in gifts, abilities or resources, yet the person who has fewer talents is praised as highly as the one who has the most. Only the man who hoards his money is rebuked. The stewards are responsible not only for what they’ve been given, but are expected to multiply their resources. The men are not told how to do this or what rate of return is acceptable to the master. There’s a lot of flexibility in methodology and results. This reflects the freedom of will and creativity God so delights to see in us. What He does demand is that we give attention to our resources and make choices regarding them that acknowledges His ownership and priorities.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, help us to remain faithful and good stewards. Make us passionate about giving and partnering with You to meet the needs of our church and those You call us to serve. (Psalm 91:15-16; Phil. 4:19)
ACTION STEP If everything we have is truly on loan from God, reflect on how your actions exhibit that belief. In what ways do your actions contradict that belief?
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DAY 18 - SURRENDERING A LOVED ONE SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 17:15-22 Abraham now knows Sarah is integral to God’s plan—the heir God has promised will be theirs. It’s good news, but what about Ishmael? For twelve years Abraham has raised him as the son of promise, but God’s plan means surrendering his son and his plans for him. God tells Abraham he hasn’t forgotten Ishmael: this boy, too, will be the father of nations. No one is expendable to God. He doesn’t abandon anyone for the sake of the big picture. When we see others in an unfair or difficult place, we are to intercede for them and encourage them discover the place God has for them. God can give them what we cannot.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we are reluctant to relinquish those we love to anyone, even You. We fool ourselves into thinking we can protect them, when in truth, we are powerless. Help us to trust You. At this moment, we place our children, our family, all those we love, into Your care. Keep them. Draw them to Yourself. We release them to follow the path You have for them and ask You give them an inheritance in You. (Jer. 19:11, I Cor. 2:9)
ACTION STEP How do you react when God blocks your plans for your family? Is there anything that keeps you from being willing to trust your loved ones to God’s care? SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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DAY 19 - MOVING MOUNTAINS SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 17:14-20 A father, desperate for his son, brings him to Jesus who heals him. When the disciples ask why they weren’t able to do it, Jesus rebukes them for lack of faith. How do we get faith? In the Luke 9 account of this story, Jesus says the kind of faith that moves mountains comes only from prayer and fasting (v 29). Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith cannot exist apart from a relationship with God. We discover what’s important to God, how He works and what He wants to do through us by spending time with Him.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we pray against anything that would keep us from experiencing Your healing in our lives and in our church: negativity, stress, wrong priorities and values, over-commitment, busyness, fatigue, compromise, overworking, hurt feelings and misunderstandings. (John 14:1; Acts 6:2-4; 2 Cor. 10:3-5)
ACTION STEP What is the mountain in your life that seems impossible? Be honest. If you lack faith, ask for it. As you continue on this journey, be attentive to the Holy Spirit speaking to you about it through prayer and God’s Word. Write down one thing God is saying to you.
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DAY 20 - INTERCESSION SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 18:16-33 Lot is in trouble. Again. But God’s decision to tell Abraham suggests the crisis is not a threat to the journey, but part of it. Through it, Abraham learns that God’s judgments are neither arbitrary, nor harsh. God wants to save and He raises up intercessors to stand in the gap for those in danger. Intercession is a task to which God calls us continually and the more we understand God’s heart, the more compelled we are to pray for those who do not know Him. By the end of the story, Abraham is interceding not just for Lot, but for the thousands of souls who inhabit Sodom and Gomorrah.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we stand in the gap for those who do not know You. Bring them to us. Bring us to them. Open our eyes to ways our church can love and touch them in Your name. Increase our compassion. Increase our strength and resources. Increase our faith. (1 Sam. 1:23, Matt. 25:40)
ACTION STEP Is there a person in your life you feel responsible for who drains your emotional and physical resources? Do you view them as a burden? A distraction? How might they be teaching you something precious about God?
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DAY 21 - PRIORITIES SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 6:19-34 Jesus makes a connection between how we handle material goods and our spiritual condition. Insecurity about losing what we have (or not having enough) reveals a lack of trust in God. Life is fragile. All creation exists in day-to-day dependence upon God. Jesus calls us to invest in eternity. Beauty, security and life can never be assured by our own efforts anyway, so why worry? Charles Spurgeon notes, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.” Peace comes from acknowledging the Lordship of Christ over all we are, all we have and all we love.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, the values of the world leave us agitated and fearful. Eternal values come with Your guarantee to provide all we need. Free us to live the abundant life You’ve promised.
ACTION STEP We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. The desire for money or the concern about not having enough can outweigh our commitment to God and spiritual matters. List the triggers in your life that cause you to overspend or to obsess about whether or not you have enough.
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DAY 22 - CELEBRATION SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 21:1-7 There is a day of fulfillment. A time when all God has promised comes to pass. Some promises will not be realized until eternity, but our great God also gives us many reasons to celebrate in this world. A birth. A marriage. A job. A healing. As a church, we look forward to completing our new facilities and welcoming our community to join us in worshiping Him. God loves a party. When He does something wonderful, we should dance! Laugh! Celebrate!
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, make us aware of Your amazing works. Let us celebrate them. Inspire us to give Christ authentic adoration, praise, worship and glory, privately and collectively. Give us purity in our worship that focuses on You and not the gifts we offer You. (Gal. 6:14)
ACTION STEP Think of the last time you were exuberantly joyful. If you find it hard to celebrate, why? What does the ability or inability to celebrate say about your view of life? Of God?
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DAY 23 - GRATITUDE SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:3-9 We do not express gratitude as often as we should and seldom with the kind of abandon the woman in this story shows. What causes her to respond so lavishly? A realization. The man before her—reclining on an ordinary chair, in an ordinary home—is the Son of God. All around her stand educated men who fail to see what she is proclaiming: Jesus is Lord. He is worthy. Her gift, so extravagant others criticized her judgment, touches Jesus’ heart—the heart of God. The God whom she honors, honors her.
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PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, protect our church, our people, our leaders, our spirit, our mission, our buildings. Be a shield around us. We pray against any spiritual, emotional or physical attack from Satan that would distract us or impede our ability to give our best to You. (Eph. 6:12, Isa. 59:19)
ACTION STEP In these verses the woman was selfless—are you willing to sacrifice to God the things that are most precious to you? Why or why not?
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DAY 24 - GREAT SACRIFICE SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 22:1-19 Most of us who are familiar with this story would admit it makes us uncomfortable because it touches on many of our fears. How far will God go to test us? What if we do something rash, thinking we’ve heard God’s voice, and we’re wrong? Will serving God put us or our children in danger? There are no one-size-fits-all answers for these questions because following God is not a trip to Disneyland, but a wilderness experience. In the wilderness the unexpected happens. One day’s travel is not like another. We have to listen. Pay attention. Rely on the Holy Spirit to help us discern God’s direction. The point of Abraham’s story is that God is absolutely trustworthy. Whatever we face, God will keep His word and lead us in the path of life.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, show us deeper ways of knowing You and honoring You. Make our church a place where we encounter Christ in His power and glory and find all that we need. (2 Peter 1:3)
ACTION STEP Abraham held nothing back from God, not even his son. What do you sense God is asking you to give to Him?
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DAY 25 - LIVING SACRIFICE SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 12:1-21 A living sacrifice involves both giving up something and giving to something. First, we must set aside our selfish natures. Then we are to discern how we can contribute to the body of Christ. Both of these require submitting to the transforming work of God in our lives.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, never let us forget that we are Your ambassadors. Make us worthy of Your calling, blameless in our attitudes and actions toward others. May our words be gracious and our hearts kind toward all of Your children. (Eph. 4:1-3, 2 Cor 5:20)
ACTION STEP In these verses Paul talks about our personal responsibility in living out our faith. Where have you struggled to do this and where do you feel God has grown you the most?
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DAY 26 - GENEROSITY SCRIPTURE: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-9 The joy with which these impoverished Christians gave is striking. They not only gave beyond their means, but are ecstatic over the opportunity to do so! Malachi 3:10 dares us to try and out-give God. These believers have found it can’t be done. God’s blessing not only offers security, but life. Living under the blessing of a God who can do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20) is exhilarating. When we draw from God’s endless supply, we can afford to be generous.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we ask for spiritual breakthroughs in our church that will transform our relationship with You and flood us with awareness of Your presence and power. Cause us to hunger for You and Your Word. Fill us with passion for the things You care about and let us partner with You in bringing them to pass. (Ps. 42:1)
ACTION STEP Verse 7 talks about giving and encourages us to “excel in this act of grace.” What does that phrase mean to you? How is giving with this kind of mentality different than giving out of obligation or duty? What has been your attitude toward this kind of sacrifice in the past?
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DAY 27 - TRUE RICHES SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-19 Paul frames the struggle to keep a godly perspective of material goods as a major spiritual battleground. A possessive attitude toward money erodes our character and undermines our walk with the Lord, but using our resources to pursue what God values pays multiple dividends. Our gifts meet the needs of others. Our good deeds count toward our treasure in heaven. When we give God whatever He asks of us, He gives us the ability to enjoy all life’s blessings without guilt or fear.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, give us a godly attitude toward money. We ask for wisdom and skill in accounting for our personal and church finances but also the ability to hold what You’ve given us lightly. (Prov. 3:9-10; 1 Cor. 9:15-18)
ACTION STEP With what areas of your life are you the most and least content? Ask God to help you identify the root causes of any discontentment. Pray that the Holy Spirit will free you to enjoy and share what you’ve been given.
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DAY 28 - LEGACY SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 24:1-9 As Abraham nears the end of his life, he is mindful of his legacy. Though he’s taught Isaac all he’s learned about God, the lessons of faith are fragile. He’s worried: Isaac needs a wife, but the daughters of Canaan serve foreign gods. Abraham’s family back home knows something of God, but God’s promises are tied to the land. Isaac can’t leave, so Abraham comes up with a plan. It is well thought out but improbable. What are the chances that a young woman would leave her family for a far country to marry someone she’s never seen? It would take a miracle. Nevertheless, Abraham knows what God has promised and, once again, trusts that God will do the impossible.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, make this church a sanctuary for the generations to come. As we are faithful to You, bless all that we bring to You. Multiply our resources. Empower us young and old. May all that we build witness of You and like Solomon’s temple, “be called by Your Name.” (2 Chron. 6:33)
ACTION STEP What do you see as your spiritual legacy? What steps are you taking to assure your family understands and follows your priorities?
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DAY 29 - CONTENTMENT SCRIPTURE: PHILIPPIANS 4:10-20 Paul considers those who have supported him financially his partners in the ministry. He is grateful but says it is for their sakes, not his, that they’ve been offered the opportunity to give. What a refreshing perspective. The Lord’s bounty is endless, so Paul does not worry about finances. Whether or not he lives in abundance or want, he is content, knowing God is in control.
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, make us content with what You’ve given us, but make us unwilling to accept it at face value. Multiply our resources ten, a hundred, even a thousand fold for the Kingdom’s sake. Draw us near so we can hear Your voice and respond when You call. (Mark 10:31, Deut. 1:11)
ACTION STEP Why did Paul know how to be content with nothing or with everything? In what ways are you like Paul and it what ways are you different from Paul?
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DAY 30 - MIRACULOUS PROVISION SCRIPTURE: LUKE 5:1-11 The catch of fish that Peter, James and John hauled in that day was greater than anything these seasoned fishermen had ever seen. The sheer size of it screamed miracle. It got their attention. But the miracle also had a practical purpose—through it God provided for the families of these men as they left their nets to follow Jesus. When God calls us, He doesn’t tell us to abandon our responsibilities; He asks us to trust Him to provide. When we give, God will give back to us out of His infinite resources. Our heavenly Father knows what we need even before we ask (Matthew 6:32).
APPLICATION
PRAYER Personal Prayer:
Intercessory Prayer for: Communal Prayer: Father, we take Your daily sustenance for granted yet You shower Your blessings on us day and night. Open our eyes to the miracle of Your provision all around us. May our joy, gratitude and thanksgiving overflow into acts of kindness and generosity toward those we are called to serve. (Luke 6:38)
ACTION STEP How are you trusting God with what He has given you? How are you using what God has given you to touch others in Jesus’ name? Go back and review day one – recall who you have been praying for and write down how God is answering those prayers.
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By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents... for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. HEBREWS 11:9-10
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PRAYER IS CENTRAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. We are excited about several prayer experiences taking place over the next few weeks that will strengthen us as a church and prepare our hearts for what God desires to do through us. Most of these can be done individually or as small groups on the days and times most convenient for you. Do them as often as you like. INTERCESSION Support our church and leaders with consistent, specific prayer. Prayer Points are found on pages 83-84. FASTING Fasting is abstaining from something over a specific period of time for a spiritual purpose – it’s a spiritual discipline designed to help participants intensely focus themselves on God. Check out the Fasting Guide on page 85. PRAYER WALK Walk our campus and seek God’s blessing over our grounds, our facilities, our ministries and our neighbors. A map and guide is found on pages 86-89. PRAISE & WORSHIP NIGHT This service, led by Rob Mayer takes place __________. There is no agenda except praising God with singing and prayers for what He’s done and is going to do here at South Shores Church. SANCTUARY PRAYER Visit our sanctuary any afternoon or between services and pray for: • Those of us who sit in the pews now (for our salvation, healing, growth and provision)—that we would all be inspired to participate as God is calling us. • Those who will sit in the pews five, ten, twenty, fifty years from now—that they would come to know Jesus and carry the legacy of the grace they’ve received here into the next generation. 84
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PRAYER POINTS THE VISION AND VALUES OF SOUTH SHORES • That God would honored and worshipped. • That God would continue to use all of us together to touch and transform lost and hurting people. • That we would be diligent in our efforts to touch neighborhoods and nations. • That caring, healing, equipping, sending, and relationships would be the focus of our engagement with others in and outside the church.
THE UNITY OF OUR CHURCH “I pray also for them who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. Father, as You are in me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:20-21 • Pray for the unity of the church, that there would be no room for the enemy to bring division or confusion. • Pray that no weapons formed by Satan will prosper: fear, dissension, negativity, discouragement, distraction, apathy, illness, mistakes, pride, demanding of personal rights and disunity.
THOSE FAR FROM GOD • Pray for the lost to encounter God through our church family, that we’d be beacons of hope and witnesses of God’s goodness to those around us. • Pray that the lost will flood into our church as we make a place for them to come and know the love and healing of Jesus.
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PRAYER POINTS (cont.) 100% PARTICIPATION - Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice • Pray that everyone who calls South Shores their church home will prayerfully pursue God’s will for them. • Pray that God will prepare our hearts for what He will be requiring of us. • Pray that God will speak to us about what financial resources we should give, and that a spirit of sacrificial giving will prevail. • Pray that everyone would give sacrificially as God directs them. • Pray that the INSPIRED Journey, informational material, messages, commitment emphasis will be inspired of the Lord and successful as He defines success.
BUILDING PROJECT (PSALM 37:5) • Pray for continued favor and cooperation with city officials and offices. • Pray for the protection of workers. • Pray for guidance in the selection of sub contractors and suppliers. • Pray for favorable pricing of bids, materials, and supplies. • Pray that all those who work on our projects will have integrity, a servant’s heart, that they would honor promises, and do their work with excellence. • Pray that architects and engineers will be able to solve problems quickly and correctly.
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FASTING GUIDE FASTING IS NOT A WAY TO GET GOD TO DO WHAT WE WANT. IT CHANGES US, NOT GOD. Fasting helps us take our eyes and senses off of things of this world and our own desires, and focus on depending on God instead. TYPES OF FASTS Decide what kind of fast you will do and consider doing it one day a week during the INSPIRED Journey. As you fast, use the time you would normally use for activities like eating, watching TV or working on the computer and spend that time alone with God. Consider using part of this time to intercede for our church and the journey before us. FOOD FASTS There are many variations of food fasts. You may go without a meal or do a liquid fast, drinking only juice and water. People with health issues should be cautious about this discipline. A complete fast from both food and water is not recommended for anyone. For those who would like a more guided fasting experience, download the “INSPIRED Journey Fast” from our website or pick up one in the church foyer.
TIPS FOR FASTING • • • • •
Stock up on what you need the day before. Keep snacks out of sight. Stay hydrated. (8) 8 oz glasses of water daily. Go easy. No strenuous exercise. Let your body rest. Pray. SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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PRAYER WALK Take your Bible and INSPIRED Journey Guide with you. Start the prayer walk at any benchmark. It is not necessary to move in sequence. Use the following prompts to begin your prayer time and let your heart guide your own words as well, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer. Ask for needed wisdom, vision and conviction. If you cannot walk the campus, please imagine the route and be inspired to pray as you visualize with praise the wonderful ministry that is done on our campus and for the blessings to come. BENCHMARK 1: AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS (PARKING LOT) Change our hearts, Oh God! Let us be Your servants, Lord. May we as a church be sensitive to and sacrificial in responding to the spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters. May we be known for our love and noticed for our deep relationships and commitments to one another. (Phil. 4:1-20) BENCHMARK 2: PARKING LOT ENTRY (NOT AT THE SIGNAL) Father, we are grateful for all of the faithful followers of Christ whose journey has brought them to South Shores Church. May all who enter these grounds find that You are good, that Your love endures, forever and that Your faithfulness continues through all generations. We exalt You, Lord! We worship You with gladness! (Psalm 100) BENCHMARK 3: N/W CORNER OF LOT May the truth and power of Jesus be witnessed in our lives and in our church. May we be the light of Christ that shines before men, that they may see our good deeds and hear the praises of our Father in Heaven. Bless our neighbors with Your presence in this place. (Luke 8:16-18) BENCHMARK 4: WALKING PATH BEHIND THE SANCTUARY Lord, I pray that the eyes of my heart would be enlightened to the hope of Your Glory. I know that Your Holy Spirit does not make me timid, but gives me power, love and self-discipline. Give me a fresh understanding of Your abundance and how what I give today can impact future generations. Help me to embrace Your presence and abandon my own limitations. (2 Timothy 1:6-9) 88
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3
4
5 2 6
SANCTUARY
7 1 10
CHAPEL
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8 FELLOWSHIP HALL
PRESCHOOL
BENCHMARK 5: OUTSIDE MPR (BEHIND SANCTUARY) Dear Jesus, as I look out towards the ocean, I see a lighthouse and am inspired by Your words, “ You are the light of the world.” You also say, “Let your light shine before men that they may see Your good deeds and praise Your Father in heaven.” Lord, let South Shores be a beacon for the lost. Help us to guide others to You. (Matt. 5:14-16) SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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PRAYER WALK (cont.) BENCHMARK 6: OUTSIDE NURSERY (BEHIND SANCTUARY) Lord, care for the children of our church. Protect them from harm and help them to feel secure and loved. May they lead the way to the Kingdom of God, through joyful praises and a sense of wonder. Please bless parents and workers in our children’s ministry who seek to meet the spiritual needs of each child. Please prompt others to open their hearts and arms to help in this growing ministry. (Mark 10:14) BENCHMARK 7: BASEKTBALL COURT (NEAR GAZEBO) Father, I pray that our youth would increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. I pray that they would be powerful witnesses in service, love, faith and purity. Help them withstand the temptations of this world. Fill them with your Holy Spirit and inspire them to walk humbly with You. Father, I pray for South Shores to be a sanctuary for the youth in our community. (Luke 2:52, 1 Tim. 4:12) BENCHMARK 8: FELLOWSHIP HALL DECK Lord, we are a multigenerational family of faith. We have been blessed with three and four generations of faithful families who worship together. David said, “Even when I am old and gray, I will declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.” I thank You for honoring those who set examples for the next generation. Bless and strengthen our seniors who have persevered and sacrificed, showing continued steadfast faith and grace. (Psalm 71:18) BENCHMARK 9: WALKWAY NEAR PLAY YARD (NEAR SIGNAL) Heavenly Father, the busy sounds of the church office and of the preschool playground are in beautiful harmony. Your presence unites all ages and stages of life in our church. Moving out of our comfort zones and the special places where we learn and play during our building phase will challenge us. Help us to be less self-centered and insecure. Inspire us with the opportunity to impact thousands more in the future through this INSPIRED Journey from Dust to Glory!
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4
5 2 6
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7 1 10
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8 FELLOWSHIP HALL
PRESCHOOL
BENCHMARK 10: BACK TO THE CROSS (PARKING LOT) My Jesus, please accept the offering and the sacrifice that I will make. I sincerely offer to You my entire will. Tell me what You want me to do. Your holy grace will help me to do it.” AMEN
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Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 1 JOHN 3:2
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BEYOND PRAYING, WE’RE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT ROLE GOD WOULD HAVE YOU PLAY IN GIVING TOWARD INSPIRED: FROM DUST TO GLORY. Can you imagine what it will be like to see the newly expanded Dana Point campus complete in 2018, realizing that God enabled you to give more than you ever dreamed possible over three years, that your heart expanded as you became more open-handed and generous, and most of all, that you helped open the door for thousands of people to discover a relationship with Jesus? For nearly 60 years South Shores Church has been marked by generous people who were willing to sacrifice their resources so that others could discover the love of God, just like they have. We know God hasn’t given everyone the ability to give the same dollar amount, but He does call us to bring what we have, in faith, and be part of something bigger than ourselves. Even if you’ve never given to God’s work before, this is a good time to test the waters. Everyone can participate in some way! Often times, some sort of sacrifice is required to get to where you want to be. For us to replace our woefully inadequate buildings, increase parking and continue to make an impact in our community and around the world, it is going to take some sacrifice. It’s going to take some shifting in priorities, in spending and in giving. If we want to reach those around us, we need to make an opportunity for them to be reached. We need to open our doors, build out. We need to create an experience that will change their lives. And we can do this—but not without you!
MARK YOUR NOVEMBER 22.
CALENDAR
FOR
It’s our “Commitment Sunday” where we’ll be turning in our INSPIRED Faith Commitments and giving our First Fruits gifts together as a church. The real journey will begin from there as we faithfully bring our gifts over the next three years.
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WHERE TO START? The best place to begin is by talking with God about what’s on your heart and mind, specifically in relation to this giving commitment. Be honest and open about it. Go through the Devotional Guide and get God’s perspective. Even in the nuts and bolts of sorting out financial questions, this is a spiritual journey. It’s not about guilt or obligation. Remember, the idea isn’t to figure out a mathematical formula,
IT’S ABOUT GIVING JESUS ACCESS TO YOUR HEART AND LETTING HIM LEAD YOU IN THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS. In the next few pages, you’ll discover some resources to help you and your family decide what your faith commitment should be.
MY STORY We are entering a really exciting time in church building and I want to have the energy and resources to participate. I feel strongly about the new church buildings because I feel that Jesus awaited me at South Shores. All my life, I passed by this church. Literally. I was born just after the old chapel was built, less than two miles north of South Shores, and went home just south of it. Even my pediatrician was in the medical offices just below South Shores. I literally passed South Shores on my way home from the hospital after I was born. I don’t want to lose out on the opportunity to be part of building something that may shelter and wait for the next generation of believers to be born and grow up. I’m not sure what this will look like, but I feel this deeply. - Kate
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GOD’S GUIDE FOR GIVING The Bible has a lot to say about giving and the promises attached to it. Giving is both a responsibility and a privilege. With that in mind, here are four biblical principles on giving from 1 Corinthians 16:1-2: Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
1. EVERY BELIEVER IN EVERY CHURCH SHOULD GIVE Giving is a universal practice. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers, “as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.” In other words, Paul was saying, “They did it in Galatia—you need to do it in Corinth. They did it in Macedonia, and we need to do it here. Every church should do this.” It was not just something the Corinthians were asked to do; it is asked of every believer. No one is exempt from giving.
2. GIVING IS TO BE DONE CONSISTENTLY & REGULARLY “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper.” The idea is to consistently take a percentage of your income and set it aside for the work of God. This is what the Scripture tells us we ought to do. And then, as you do this, you are able to invest it in his kingdom.
3. GIVING IS A PERSONAL ACT Notice that Paul says, “each of you is to put something aside.” Paul’s point is that every one of us should set aside an amount of money to give. Even children ought to be taught this. Giving to God’s work is a personal act for every single believer.
4. WE SHOULD PREPARE OURSELVES TO INVEST IN THE WORK OF GOD “…and store it up,… so that there will be no collecting when I come.” Paul is saying to prayerfully consider how much to give and do it in advance. It should never be a last-minute or flippant practice. Paul also says, “as he may prosper.” In other words, not all of our gifts will be equal, but our sacrifice should be. Our giving should be in proportion to what we earn. Giving is an opportunity to be an obedient Christian. Take it seriously, but do it cheerfully.
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STEPS IN THE INSPIRED JOURNEY Throughout the Commitment Guide section, we have tried to provide you with a variety of ways to pray through your commitment. To that end, here is a seven-step process that others have found helpful.
STEP ONE: P RAY God is interested in what’s on your heart and mind. As you walk with God, open your heart to what He is inviting you to become and to do. Prayer will be a place where your desires and God’s desires will meet. It will also be a place where the Holy Spirit can work to enable you to fully respond to God’s direction. Here are some suggestions to help you pray and be led by God.
1. Be Honest
Express your doubt, your fears, your excitement, and your hopes. Let prayer be a time to identify where you are in the journey.
2. Ask God Questions
Maybe choose a couple of questions each week that you use as the focus of your prayer. Choose from the questions below or use your own: • What do You want me to know about my own heart? • What do You want me to know about Your heart, God? • What are the gifts You have given to me? What gets in the way of me using those gifts for You? • What do You want to do in me? • What do You want to do through me? What do you want me to change in my lifestyle, priorities, focus and goals?
3. Listen
Sit quietly, and try to pay attention to what God might be saying or doing. Try to spend five minutes each day waiting for God in silence. Journal about what you hear.
4. Partner
Find one person to talk to about your prayer experience. You could do a weekly check-in by phone, email or face-to-face. Pray for your partner’s journey and know that they are praying for yours.
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STEP TWO: EVALUATE YO UR IN CO M E It’s important to have a realistic starting point, so start with what is known, your income. Salary #1: $_________________ Year 1
Salary #2:
$_________________
potential raise/bonus/commission: $____________
Year 2 potential raise/bonus/commission: $____________ Year 3 potential raise/bonus/commission: $____________ 3-yr sub-total $____________ For most of us, income alone will not take us where we want to go toward making a legacy-type commitment to our church.
STEP THREE: DECRE AS E & D E L AY (LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND/OR ALTERED SPENDING)
Is there something in your daily life that you can take advantage of less frequently? Or financial plans you can prayerfully consider delaying? Some ideas to get you thinking: Lessen car payments $______ Sell car & purchase a used car with no payments $______ Eat out less often $______ Scale back cell phone & internet usage $______ Modify type and number of vacations $______ Adjust cable TV/direct TV coverage, packages downward $______ Trim down entertainment, watch a video $______ Reduce the number of coffee runs $______ Do your own housekeeping, lawn care $______ Other $______ Other $______ Other $______ Sub-Total $______ It’s important in this journey to include your spouse in the conversation if married, or the entire family if you have children. It’s an important step in the development of your family. Most of us think that our kids will not be willing to sacrifice, but we’ve seen that most kids are more comfortable than we are as adults with the process and they have an implicit and childlike faith and belief in a BIG God.
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STEP FOUR: DO NATE (ACTIVELY CONSIDER ASSETS)
Another way you can contribute to INSPIRED is by donating stocks. Giving the stocks to the church and then letting the church sell it eliminates potential capital gains taxes and can increase the after-tax proceeds. The acceptance of non-cash gifts must be approved by the Finance Team (Contact Drucilla Hickok at 949.496.9331). You can also donate by selling depreciating items first and then giving the proceeds. Stocks and bonds Cars Stamps Trading cards Coins Memorabilia Motorcycle Clothes Boats Jewelry Artwork Other
$______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ $______ Sub-Total
$______
WILLS & TRUSTS Make South Shores Church a beneficiary in your will or trust. For ideas on how you can do this contact Tandy Sullivan at 949.496.9331 x103.
STEP FIVE: D O M O RE (TIME & TALENT)
Considering some creative ways you can do more is another way you can give to INSPIRED. Return to work $______ Work one additional day a week $______ Start a new business to generate income $______ Take an outside “seasonal” job opportunity $______ Work over-time $______ Work an extra Saturday $______ Creative and artistic hobbies: jewelry making, pottery, etc. $______
Sub-Total
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$______
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STEP SIX: D E NIAL (A GENUINE ACT OF SACRIFICIAL FAITH)
As seen in the Bible, God often taps people on the shoulder and asks them to do something extraordinary. This is the sort of out-of-the-ordinary faith that can only be attributed to a prompting of God’s Spirit. It’s the type of commitment that a financial planner may think is foolish, but God may very well consider quite smart. It’s hard to suggest what this opportunity may be for you, but we believe God will lead some of us toward this very place. For instance: You decide to retire, but you delay it for 3 years to give those resources to the church. You postpone or slide back retirement by taking money out of your 401K/403B/IRA.
MY GIVING POTENTIAL Each of us can give far more than we think by giving regularly over a three year period. Here are some examples:
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MONTHLY
YEARLY
3-YEAR TOTAL
$27,777 13,888 6,944 2,666 2,083 1,388 694 333 208 166 125 83 41 25
$333,333 166,666 83,333 33,333 25,000 16,666 8,333 4,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 300
$1,000,000 500,000 250,000 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 12,000 7,500 6,000 4,500 3,000 1,500 900 or less
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WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR SOUTH SHORES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN RAISING $20 MILLION? There is one thing for certain – we cannot take the total that is needed and divide it by the number of families in the church and come up with an “average” gift for every family to give! That will not work! Studying campaigns completed by other churches, a very typical distribution of gifts can be found. Using that typical distribution and applying it to our church we find a “model” distribution of gifts that it will take for us to be successful. This also underscores the Biblical principle of proportionality –
THAT EACH OF US IS “CALLED” TO GIVE ACCORDING TO HOW WE’VE BEEN BLESSED WITH FINANCIAL RESOURCES! This “tool” also underscores another Biblical principle of stewardship, the principle that decisions about giving should be made in prayer. Look at the chart on the next page and pray the Stewardship Prayer,
“Lord, what do You want to do through me? Then ask the Lord,
“Where do You see me (or us) on this chart? At what “level” of giving?” God will tell you – just seek and ask Him!
REMEMBER THE GOD FACTOR Don’t put yourself in a box! As we press into the future of South Shores Church what are your dreams? What if God chooses to bless your future too? We think he will. So, don’t forget the “God factor” that could adjust your commitment because of a new job, raise, promotion, etc. God has shown how He can take a commitment made in faith that was a real stretch for someone, and bring in the resources to meet it. If you need assistance to dig deeper and figure these things out, please contact the church office and we can put you in touch with one of our financial advisors to help. SOUTH SHORES CHURCH
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GIVING CHART GIVEN OVER THREE YEARS $20,000,000 “NOT EQUAL GIFTS, BUT EQUAL SACRIFICE” No. of Gifts at Level
Gifts Level
Total at Level
Cumulative Total
1
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
2
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
$7,000,000
3
$600,000
$1,800,000
$8,800,000
5
$300,000
$1,500,000
$10,300,000
10
$100,000
$1,000,000
$11,350,000
21 Commitments = $11,300,000 or 56.5% of Goal
No. of Gifts at Level
Gifts Level
Total at Level
Cumulative Total
15
$75,000
$1,125,000
$12,425,000
19
$60,000
$1,140,000
$13,565,000
25
$50,000
$1,250,000
$14,815,000
30
$40,000
$1,200,000
$16,015,000
40
$30,000
$1,200,000
$17,215,000
129 Commitments = $5,915,000 or 29.6% of Goal 150 Commitments = $17,215,000 or 86.1% of Goal No. of Gifts at Level
Gifts Level
Total at Level
Cumulative Total
40
$21,000
$840,000
$18,055,000
45
$15,000
$675,000
$18,730,000
75
$9,000
$675,000
$19,405,000
90
$6,000
$540,000
$19,945,000
All Others
$1,500 +/-
$55,000
$20,000,000
250 (or more) Commitments = $2,785,000 or 13.9% of Goal 400 (or more) Total Commitments = $20,000,000 or 100% of Goal
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STEP SEVEN: CO M M ITM E NT - T R U ST G O D ! It could very well be that there are dollar amounts that can be assigned to every one of these steps/categories. Total them up and give that over the 3 years. Yes – it is going to take God’s help to accomplish it, but if we could do it on our own, then we very well might be tempted to take the credit for what God and only God can do!
$_________________ TOTAL 3-YEAR COMMITMENT (What God wants to do through me)
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1
EXAMPLE A family of four’s commitment strategies (over three years): Increase giving by $25.00/wk 3-year total Reduce eating out by $50.00/wk Randy (7th grader) take lunch to school Phil (husband) takes lunch to work Teresa (wife) reduces household food budget by $25/wk Teresa foregoes pedicures Melissa (HS Senior) reduces entertainment expense Phil plays golf only once a week during Summer Family reduces Christmas expense by $500 Cancel one vacation Vicki (10th grader) gives ¼ baby sitting fees Miscellaneous reductions (subscriptions, fees, etc.) Trusting God for another $1000 Grand 3 year total:
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$3,900 $7,800 $ 450 $2,600 $3,900 $2,700 $ 600 $2,400 $1,500 $2,500 $ 400 $ 250 $1,000 $30,000
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HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT November 22 is designated as Commitment Sunday, when we will ask the congregation to turn in Faith Commitment cards that represent their potential donations. This is not a binding contract, but a declaration of your intentions, which will help us plan and secure funding. You will also be able to fill this form out online after November 22 at: www.southshores.org or www.inspiredfromdusttoglory.com
STARTING TO GIVE We will begin accepting contributions to the INSPIRED Journey on Commitment Sunday in a “First Fruits” offering. Anything given to INSPIRED through the end of December 2015 will be considered “First Fruits.” Regular INSPIRED giving will be received over a three-year faith commitment period through the end of 2018. Remember to clearly designate on your check’s memo line or envelope that the contribution (or a portion of the contribution) should be attributed to INSPIRED.
WAYS YOU CAN GIVE ONLINE Contributions may be made through the South Shores Church website (www. southshores.org) using a credit/debit card or an eCheck automatic withdrawal. From the main page, click “GIVE” from upper right-hand corner. Then, fill out the form to do a one-time gift, or click “Login” to set-up recurring gifts through Church Community Builder. Please do not forget to designate the gift – choose INSPIRED (Faith Commitment) in the fund drop down box for gifts to the campaign.
BILL PAY Through your bank’s bill pay system, you can set up one-time or automatic recurring gifts directly from your bank account(s). Please be sure to list the South Shores Church Dana Point office address: 32712 Crown Valley Parkway, Dana Point, CA 92629. Also be sure to include a designation to “INSPIRED” on the bill pay memo line.
DIRECT MAIL If you choose to mail your gifts to South Shores Church, please address the envelope as follows:
South Shores Church Attn: Finance 32712 Crown Valley Parkway Dana Point, CA 92629 104
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A CLOSING THOUGHT FROM PASTOR TY Way to go! You got in there and you went for it. If you took the time to listen, pray, read, journal and contemplate what God has wanted to reveal to you, I trust that you are not quite the same person you were when you started this journey. Like Abraham, we’ve been searching for more than our eyes can see, so that God will not be ashamed to be called our God. I’m excited to see what God will do both through this church and in your own life. It’s very possible that it will be far above what we have dared to ask, hope or think. He’s going to do it, He has inspired it, He is taking our church from dust to glory—but NOT WITHOUT YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING IN THE INSPIRED JOURNEY!
Pastor Ty Guy
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. - Hebrews 11:16
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But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body... PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21