Sermon Based Curriculum
Sermon Date: Sept. 27, 2009
Sermon Title: Living Inside Out
Sermon Text: Acts 1:8 and Matt. 13:33
Small Group Text: Matt. 13:33
Introduction:
What words or phrases come to mind when I say “church”? What do you think most people might say to the same question? For many of us, and perhaps most people, “church” has a very passive, if not downright negative, meaning. For some, it’s just a place we go or something we do on Sunday. But for Jesus, the church is God’s hope for the world. We are to be His dynamic, living, pervasive force to bring light and love to the world! Why doesn’t the common view of church line up with Jesus’ view? In this week’s worship services, we saw some scriptural pictures of how the church serves as a conduit of spiritual power. Let’s dig a little deeper into one of the images Jesus used to describe the purpose of His church. It might help to remember that when Jesus refers to the kingdom of heaven he is thinking about the influence of His Holy Spirit working in us and through us.
Discussion
1.
Read Matt. 13:33 aloud. What characteristics of leaven (or yeast) relate to bread-making? (E.g., Yeast is a small and seemingly insignificant ingredient, when it does its work it transforms the dough, and once it starts it can’t be stopped.)
2. What conditions must be present for yeast to do its work? (E.g., Yeast must be fresh or alive, it must be poured out of the package, and it must be activated, it must be in contact with the dough.)
3. What would prevent yeast from doing its work? (E.g., Yeast is ineffective when its dried out, remains in the package, or is not in contact with the dough.)
4. How might the characteristics of yeast (in question 1) apply to us, the church? 5. Given its characteristics and the right conditions, yeast will do to dough what yeast was created to do! It’s only when yeast is prevented from doing its work (by those factors we discussed in question 3) that yeast “fails.” Likewise, given our characteristics and the right conditions, the church will do what the church was created to do! What prevents us from being the powerful, pervasive force in the world that God intends us to be?
Application
Before group time, print four or five copies of the following questions. Then for application, break up into smaller groups and discuss the questions. 1. As spiritual leaven, how do I stay fresh and alive with God’s power? 2. In what practical ways am I “poured out and in contact” with the world that I am to influence? 3. What prevents God’s pervasive power from working in me and through me? 4. Based on Jesus’ teaching that the church is like leaven (yeast) in the world, what is the one thing that you would do differently this week?
Final Thoughts s
After 10 minutes, reconvene to discuss each other’s thoughts. Leaven is hidden, small, seemingly insignificant, penetrating, and its power is transforming.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Sermon-Based Curriculum