Journey of Faith Messages Podcast

Journey of Faith
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Journey of Faith. In this podcast you will hear the weekly message from Journey of Faith, s multi-site church with campuses in Manhattan Beach and Torrance, CA..

  1. 6d ago

    Step Out of the Boat

    Being part of a church can sometimes mean attending services and enjoying events and programs.  But Jesus has a completely different definition: he sees being part of God’s family as being part of God’s MISSION.  And so, at the end of his earthly time with his disciples, he sends them out with a Great Commission to GO into the whole world with his message of forgiveness. In this week’s message, we’ll allow Jesus to give us that same challenge: we’ll hear him call us to grow in our boldness and bravery so that we can reach more people together.    Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view the .docx version of this guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week. Specifically, how have we applied the Action Steps from last week?  Introduction  Most of us like feeling safe, prepared, and in control. We want to know what’s coming and feel confident that we can handle it.  Those aren’t bad things. But sometimes our desire for safety can keep us from following Jesus somewhere new. We can become so focused on what could go wrong that we miss what God might do if we trusted him.  Throughout the Bible, God calls ordinary people beyond what feels comfortable and predictable. They don’t always feel ready, and they don’t always get it right, but they discover that courage isn’t having everything figured out before moving forward. It’s trusting Jesus enough to follow where he leads.  Connect  Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions.  When you go to a restaurant, do you usually order something you already know you like or try something new?  What’s a risk you’ve taken that you’re really glad you took?  Would you describe yourself as a risk-taker, risk-averse, or somewhere in between? Why?  Opening  Sometimes playing it safe feels like the responsible choice. But playing it safe has risks too. We might avoid failure or embarrassment, but we can also miss opportunities to grow, experience something new, or discover what God can do.  Following Jesus will sometimes lead us beyond what we can predict or control. That doesn’t mean taking foolish or reckless risks. It means recognizing that there are moments when obedience to Jesus requires courage.  And we don’t have to manufacture that courage by ourselves. Jesus meets us in our fear, invites us to trust who he is, and helps us take the next step.  This leads us to our main idea for the week: We should let Jesus help us face risk. Unpack  Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses.  Read: Exodus 14:10–16  In this passage, the Israelites find themselves trapped between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea. They are afraid and cannot see a way forward, but God tells them that he will make a way.  What do the Israelites see happening around them, and how do they respond?  What does Moses tell the people about God and what he will do?  What tension do you notice between “stand still” in verse 13 and “move on” in verse 15?  What does this story suggest about the relationship between depending on God’s power and having the courage to move forward?  Read: Psalm 107:23–30  In this passage, people find themselves caught in a powerful storm at sea. When their own abilities are no longer enough, they cry out to God for help.  How does the writer describe the storm and the people’s response to it?  What changes after the people cry out to God?  The passage says the people were “at their wits’ end” before they cried out to God. What might that detail reveal about when and why people turn to God for help?  What does this passage suggest about trusting God when circumstances are beyond our ability to control them?  Read: Matthew 14:22–33  In this passage, Jesus’ disciples are struggling against a storm when Jesus comes toward them walking on the water. Peter responds to Jesus’ invitation by doing something that seems impossible.  What different reactions do you notice from the disciples and Peter as the story unfolds?  What does Jesus say and do at the moments when people in the story are afraid?  Peter is sometimes remembered for sinking, but before that, he actually gets out of the boat. What do Peter’s actions, from stepping out to calling for help, teach us about courage and trust?  How does the disciples’ understanding of Jesus change from the beginning of the story to the end? Why might knowing who Jesus is matter when facing risk?  Action Step  This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways.  1. Address the doubt or fear that stands in your way of trusting God.  Sometimes we allow something that might happen to control us as though it definitely will happen: What if I fail? What if I’m embarrassed? What if I lose control? What if this doesn’t work? What will people think? Think about something Jesus may be leading you toward and identify the fear that makes staying in the “boat” feel safer. Name that fear honestly before God. You might simply pray: “God, I surrender this fear to you. If you call me, I will come.”  2. Take a bold step in the direction Jesus is leading you.  You don’t need to have the entire plan figured out before you move. You only need to take the next faithful step. Maybe that means inviting someone to church, talking honestly about your faith, changing a behavior that has been part of your life for too long, asking someone to pray for you, having a difficult conversation, serving before you feel completely ready, or responding to another direction you sense Jesus leading you. Your step might not look bold to anyone else. But what would “getting out of the boat” look like for you?  Let’s share one way we can practically apply one or both Action Steps, so we can encourage and pray for one another.  Closing  Courage doesn’t require us to have everything figured out.  Peter stepped out of the boat while the wind was still blowing and the waves were still crashing. He experienced Jesus’ power, became afraid again, began to sink, and cried out for help. And Jesus reached for him.  That’s an encouraging picture of following Jesus. We can be courageous and still experience fear. We can trust and still have doubts. We can take a bold step and not do everything perfectly.  Overcoming doesn’t mean we never feel afraid or never fail. It means we refuse to let fear have the final say.  Jesus is more powerful than whatever feels chaotic or uncontrollable to us. And he invites ordinary, imperfect people like us to trust him enough to step out of what feels safe and participate in what he is doing.  Pray Together  As we wrap up, we’ll invite anyone who would like to share something we can pray for together. You can share or just pass.  Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close.  Missionary Focus  Jay R. Ministry Description  (For some of our missionaries, certain details are kept private to protect their safety and the sensitive nature of their work. Thank you for understanding as we share what we can.) Jay R. is mentoring and leading to produce indigenous and reproductive churches throughout India and South Asia.    Prayer Requests  That Jay and his family would continue to grow in their ministry abilities   For God to continue to bring safety and security to their family  Memorization Verse  When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.  Matthew 14:27  Daily Devotional  Using a practice called the “Discovery Method,” reflect on the verses below. For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions:  What do these verses reveal about who God is?  What do these verses reveal about us/others?  What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do?  Day 1: Exodus 33:12–14 Day 2: Psalm 27:11–14 Day 3: Proverbs 3:25–26 Day 4: Luke 5:1–11 Day 5: Ephesians 3:16–21 Day 6: Hebrews 11:8–10  The post Step Out of the Boat appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  2. Sep 20

    Giving Your All

    Our perception of what it means to be “brave” is usually inspired by powerful heroes. We picture standing up for what we believing in, taking bold strides toward our goals, and racking up victory after victory. But Jesus sees things differently.  This week we’ll read a biblical story in which Jesus finds bravery in someone being humble, sacrificial, and full of trust.  What would it look like for us to redefine our vision for “overcoming” around Jesus’ new perspective?  Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week. Specifically, how have we applied the Action Steps from last week?  Introduction  We all experience fear. Sometimes it’s something relatively small, but other times our fears are connected to things that matter deeply to us: our families, finances, health, future, relationships, or sense of security.  When we’re afraid, our natural response is often to protect ourselves. We hold on tighter, play it safe, and try to control what happens next. Sometimes that’s wise. But sometimes our desire for safety actually keeps us from taking the courageous step God is asking us to take.  Biblical courage doesn’t mean we stop feeling afraid. Courage means trusting God enough to move forward even when we don’t know exactly what will happen.  Jesus invites us to live with that kind of boldness, to increasingly trust him with everything and hold nothing back.  Connect  Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions.  What’s something you’re afraid of that you know is probably a little irrational?  As you’ve gotten older, what’s a fear or worry that has become more important to you?  When you’re afraid or worried, what’s your natural response? Try to take control, avoid it, talk about it, distract yourself, or something else?  Opening  It’s easy to talk about trusting God when nothing important is at stake. But when something we value feels uncertain like our money, family, future, reputation, health, or plans, we discover what we’re actually relying on.  Throughout the Bible, God invites ordinary people to take courageous steps of trust. They don’t always know what will happen next, and they aren’t necessarily fearless. Their courage comes from believing that the God leading them can be trusted.  That’s an important difference. Biblical boldness isn’t recklessness, and it isn’t pretending our concerns aren’t real. It is becoming willing to move forward with God even when holding back feels safer.  This leads us to our main idea for the week: We should put all of our trust in Jesus, holding nothing back. Unpack  Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses.  Read: 1 Kings 17:8–16  In this passage, a widow is living through a severe drought and has almost nothing left for herself and her son. She is asked to trust God with the little she has, even though she cannot yet see how God will provide.  What details in the passage tell us how desperate the widow’s situation had become?  What does Elijah ask the widow to do, and what does he promise will happen?  Notice that God’s provision comes one day at a time rather than all at once. What might it teach us about the relationship between trust and courage?  What does vs 16 teach us about the character of God when we’re in challenging seasons?  Read: Psalm 62:5–8  In this passage, the writer describes God as the source of his hope and security and then invites others to trust God with what is happening inside them.  What does the writer tell himself to do in verses 5–6, and what reasons does he give himself?  What invitation does the writer give to others in verses 7–8?  What do you think “pour out your heart” suggests about the relationship between honestly expressing our fears and trusting God?  How might seeing God as our “rock,” “refuge,” and “fortress” shape the way we think about courage when life feels uncertain?  Read: Mark 12:41–44  Jesus sits near the Temple offering boxes and watches people give. Many wealthy people contribute large amounts, while a poor widow contributes two very small coins. Jesus calls his disciples over because he wants them to notice something they might otherwise have missed.  What differences do you notice between the rich people and the widow?  What does Jesus observe about the gift the woman gave?  Why do you think Jesus evaluates her gift differently than we normally might? What does that reveal about what Jesus values?  What does this story suggest about the relationship between trust and courage when something important to us feels uncertain?  Action Step  This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways.  1. Call out a stumbling block that is masquerading as safety.  Fear doesn’t always look like fear. Sometimes it sounds reasonable: I’m just being careful. I need more time. I need to know how this will turn out. I should keep my options open.  Think about an area of your life where your desire to remain comfortable, safe, or in control might actually be keeping you from trusting Jesus. Ask yourself: What am I holding onto because letting go feels too risky?  Ask Jesus to help you recognize where fear may be masquerading as safety and keeping you from courageously trusting him.  2. Take a bold step of trust.  Courage becomes real when we act.  Choose one concrete way to put your trust in Jesus into action this week. Maybe it means becoming more generous, attending church consistently, volunteering, joining a group, beginning regular personal time with God, having a conversation you’ve avoided, asking someone for help, or trusting Jesus with a decision you’ve been trying to control. You don’t have to feel completely fearless before you move forward.  Let’s share one way you can practically apply one or both Action Steps, so we can encourage and pray for one another.  Closing  Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Often, courage is choosing to trust God while we are still afraid.  The people we’ve encountered this week remind us that trust eventually requires action. At some point, we have to loosen our grip on what makes us feel safe and decide whether we believe God can really be trusted.  We may not know exactly what will happen next. We may still feel uncertain. But our confidence doesn’t come from controlling the outcome.  It comes from knowing who we are trusting.  God has proven himself faithful. Jesus knows us, loves us, and invites us to courageously place our whole lives in his hands.  Pray Together  As we wrap up, we’ll invite anyone who would like to share something we can pray for together. You can share or just pass.  Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close.  Missionary Focus  Jay R.  Ministry Description  For some of our missionaries, certain details are kept private to protect their safety and the sensitive nature of their work. Thank you for understanding as we share what we can.   Jay R. Is mentoring and leading to produce indigenous and reproductive churches throughout India and South Asia.    Prayer Requests  That Jay and his family would continue to grow in their ministry abilities   For God to continue to bring safety and security to their family  Memorization Verse  When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.  Psalm 62:8  “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude” Daily Devotional  Using a practice called the “Discovery Method,” reflect on the verses below. For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions:  What do these verses reveal about who God is?  What do these verses reveal about us/others?  What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do?  Day 1: Deuteronomy 7:7–9 Day 2: Psalm 31:19–24 Day 3: Proverbs 29:25 Day 4: Luke 12:29–34 Day 5: 2 Corinthians 5:6–7 Day 6: Hebrews 10:35–39  The post Giving Your All appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  3. Sep 13

    Overcome the World

    Jesus sees the world differently than we do: somehow, even in the face of difficulties, Jesus claimed that he had “overcome” the world.  What would believing that look like in our lives?  How would tying ourselves to Jesus’ victory change our perspective on our current challenging circumstances? In this first week of our 4-week series, we’ll kick off the fall by looking at how one of Jesus’ disciples, John, was inspired by Jesus to live a life fully committed to overcoming and teaches us to do the same.  Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week. Introduction   As we begin the Fall season, many of us are already faced with challenges. Life is like that! It can feel intimidating, uncertain, and sometimes even scary. We face things at work, at home, in relationships, with our finances, and in our own thoughts that can leave us wondering, How am I going to get through this? Fear can make our problems look bigger and ourselves look smaller. Sometimes it even convinces us that we’re defeated before we’ve begun. Jesus offers us a different way to see our circumstances. He never promises that life will be easy or that we won’t experience fear, disappointment, or pain. Instead, he tells us something much more powerful: “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Connect   Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions.   What difficult thing did you learn to do that once seemed impossible? When facing something difficult, are you more likely to jump right in or think about it for a long time first? Who helps you feel more courageous? Opening   When we face something difficult, our instinct is often to search for courage inside ourselves. Be stronger. Think positively. Push through. But biblical courage starts somewhere different. Throughout the Bible, people find courage by remembering who God is, what he has already done, and what he says is true about them. Their circumstances may still be difficult, but they begin to see those circumstances differently. Following Jesus doesn’t mean denying what we are facing. It means learning to see our present difficulties in light of what we know to be true about Jesus. This leads us to our main idea for the week:  Through Jesus, we can overcome our present difficulties. Unpack   Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses.   Read   2 Chronicles 20:12–17 In this passage, the ancient King Jehoshaphat and his people face an enemy they know they cannot defeat on their own. Instead of pretending to be stronger than they are, they turn their attention toward God. What stands out to you about the statement, “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help”? What does God tell them about the battle they are facing? What is the difference between trusting God for victory and simply trying to convince ourselves that everything will work out? Where in your life might you need to say, “I don’t know what to do, but I’m looking to you for help”? Read Psalm 46:1–3, 10–11 In this passage, the writer imagines circumstances that feel completely out of control, so the writer turns to God. What images does the writer use to describe a world that feels unstable? What do you think “Be still, and know that I am God” means in the context of this psalm? How can fear cause us to connect difficult circumstances with defeat? What would it look like to see one of your present difficulties through the truth of who God is? Read: John 16:31–33 In this passage, Jesus prepares his closest followers for difficult times ahead. coming.  What does Jesus honestly tell his followers they should expect? What does Jesus promise they can experience even while facing difficulties? What is the difference between saying, “Everything will be okay,” and saying, “Jesus has overcome the world”? What could it look like this week to live as an overcomer before your circumstances have changed?   Action Step   This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways.   Call out one of your biggest hurdles and recast it as “overcome.” Identify one difficulty that has been taking up a lot of space in your mind. What “defeatist” story have you been telling yourself about it? Bring that hurdle honestly to Jesus. You don’t need to pretend that it isn’t difficult or turn off unpleasant feelings. Instead, practice seeing that difficulty in light of Jesus’ victory: Jesus, you have overcome. Help me see this through your eyes. Take one brave step as an overcomer. What is something you’ve been delaying because of fear, failure, uncertainty, or something from your past? Your brave step might be having a difficult conversation, forgiving someone, asking for help, changing a habit, returning to church regularly, serving, joining a group, spending regular time with God, or taking another step you sense Jesus inviting you to take. What is one brave next step you can take? Share with the group so we can encourage and pray for one another. Closing  Jesus never promises that following him means we won’t experience difficult things. We will face uncertainty. We will experience disappointment. We will have moments when we are afraid and wonder whether we can keep going. But our circumstances don’t determine whether we have won or lost. Jesus does. Our confidence isn’t rooted in believing that we are strong enough to overcome anything. It is rooted in trusting the one who has already overcome the world. Through Jesus, we can overcome our present difficulties. Pray Together   As we wrap up, we’ll invite anyone who would like to share something we can pray for together. You can share or just pass. Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close.   Missionary Focus   Rich and Debbie Frazer Ministry Description     Rich serves as the president SOS International, which stands for Spiritual Overseers Service International which focuses on evangelism, discipleship, and compassion. SOS International’s Nepali coworker, Pastor Pradeep Jha of Tabernacle Ministries, is actively providing relief to victims of the devastating flooding and land sliding in Nepal- focusing on food, clothes, water filter/hygiene products and shelters. Prayer Requests:   For Rich to provide abundant support to Pastor Pradeep in his relief efforts.   For Pastor Pradeep to strategically funnel his efforts and resources into meaningful relief for flood victims. Memorization Verse When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Daily Devotional Using a practice called the “Discovery Method,” reflect on the verses below. For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions: What do these verses reveal about who God is? What do these verses reveal about us/others? What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do? Day 1: Deuteronomy 31:6Day 2: Psalm 56:3–4Day 3: Isaiah 41:10Day 4: Romans 8:35–39Day 5: 1 John 4:4Day 6: 1 John 5:4–5 The post Overcome the World appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  4. Sep 6

    Zombie Jesus

    Jesus often used pleasant, natural symbols to share about God’s love, like flowers, sheep, and birds.  But how should we approach the verses in which he uses more dramatic and visceral symbols like blood and flesh?  In the final week of the series, we’ll explore how Jesus shocked his original audience to help them think about their shared humanity and invite them into a more spiritually rich experience of God.  Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week and specifically how we were able to apply the Action Steps from last week’s discussion.   Introduction   We are in the third and final week of a series called Wait, Jesus Said What? We’re looking at some of Jesus’ most startling and difficult sayings and working together to understand the truth he wants us to learn. In this discussion, we’re going to look at this statement from Jesus: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” But before we think and talk about this, let’s start with something a bit easier!   Connect   Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions.   What is one food you could happily eat every week?   What is a food everyone seems to love that you could live without?   When you need to recharge physically or emotionally, what usually helps?  Opening   Most of us depend on all kinds of things to keep life going.  We need food and sleep. We need relationships and meaningful work. We may also look to things like success, comfort, money, entertainment, recognition, or even being in control to make us feel secure and satisfied.  None of those things are necessarily bad. The problem comes when we ask something temporary to give us what only God can provide.  Jesus describes himself as the “bread of life.” Just as food sustains our physical bodies, Jesus says that real and eternal life comes through him. He doesn’t simply want to become one more part of our lives. He wants to become the one we depend on for life itself.  This leads us to our main idea for the week:  We can only find real life by relying solely on Jesus.  Unpack   Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses.   Read   Exodus 16:1-31   In this passage, God supernaturally provides the ancient Israelites with quail, and a bread-like food called “manna” as they wander in the wilderness.  What does God’s response to the Israelites’ complaining reveal about him?  God tells them that the manna will appear daily. How would this encourage daily dependence on God?  Why do you think some people still tried to collect more than their daily portion?  In what ways can you relate to their desire to have more than they needed for that day?  Read  Psalm 63:1-5  David wrote this song while he was in the wilderness. He uses the physical experiences of hunger and thirst to describe his desire for God.  What imagery does David use to describe his desire for God?  David compares being satisfied with God to enjoying “the richest foods.” What do you think he means?  What are some things we commonly look to for satisfaction instead of God?  What is one area of your life where you currently “hunger and thirst” for God?  Read  John 6:53-57  Jesus uses food imagery to describe how completely we need him.   Put yourself in the story. Why would Jesus’ language have been confusing or offensive?  After reading Exodus 16 and Psalm 63, how does the Bible’s earlier food imagery help you understand what Jesus is saying?  What do you think Jesus means when he says his followers will “live because of me”?  What is the difference between making Jesus part of your life and relying on Jesus as the source of your life?  What might change in our everyday lives if we really believed that Jesus is the one who sustains us?  Action Step   This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways.   1. Doggedly identify and expose what distracts you from Jesus.  Ask yourself this week: What am I chasing? Maybe it’s money, comfort, success, approval, entertainment, control, politics, a relationship, or even a worry that consumes your attention. Identify one thing that is taking more of your attention and energy than it deserves. Then ask: How is this distracting me from relying on Jesus?  2. Begin today to live your eternal life through Jesus.  Jesus describes eternal life as something that begins now. Look for one practical way each day to intentionally rely on him. Spend a few minutes with Jesus before reaching for your phone. Pause and pray when you feel anxious. Ask for his direction before making a decision. When dealing with a difficult person, ask, “Jesus, how would you love this person through me?”  As you think about these steps, what will you commit to this week? Share with the group so you can encourage and pray for one another.  Closing  We spend a lot of our lives chasing things we hope will satisfy us, secure us, or make our lives better. Jesus reminds us that even good things cannot give us what only he can provide.  That’s why his language in John 6 is so strong. Jesus doesn’t want to be one more part of our lives. He wants us to depend on him, to be sustained by him, and ultimately to “live because of” him.  The invitation is not simply to believe some things about Jesus. It is to rely on him as the source of real and eternal life.  Pray Together   As we wrap up, we’ll go around and invite anyone to share anything they’d like prayer for together. You can share or just pass. Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close.   Missionary Focus   Missionary   Jay R.  Ministry Description   Jay R. (For some of our missionaries, certain details are kept private to protect their safety and the sensitive nature of their work. Thank you for understanding as we share what we can.): Jay R. Is mentoring and leading to produce indigenous and reproductive churches throughout India and South Asia.    Prayer Requests:   That Jay and his family would continue to grow in their ministry abilities   For God to continue to bring safety and security to their family  Spend a few minutes in prayer for Jay  Reflection Verse for the Week   Read this verse, then encourage the practice of reflection and memorization throughout the week.   John 6:57  “I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.”  When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.   Daily Devotional Verses   Use the “Discovery Method” to reflect on the verses below.  For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions:     What do these verses reveal about who God is?    What do these verses reveal about us/others?    What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do?    Each day this week, you’ll read a verse related to…   Day 1: Deuteronomy 8:2–3 Day 2: Psalm 42:1–2 Day 3: Isaiah 55:1–3 Day 4: Matthew 6:31–34 Day 5: John 15:4–5 Day 6: Galatians 2:20  The post Zombie Jesus appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  5. Aug 30

    Unfair Grace

    Throughout the Bible, God is described as just – which we usually take to mean that he is fair and right in all of his actions.  But when it comes to the forgiveness we can receive through Jesus, it turns out God isn’t “fair” at all!  Instead, he gives us forgiveness even though we’re incredibly undeserving.  This week we’ll face into God’s lavish love for us, and learn how that can motivate us to spread that love into our world.  Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before we begin, let’s take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of our time together. Then we’ll take a couple of minutes to go around and share where we’ve seen God at work in our lives this week and specifically how we were able to apply the Action Steps from last week’s discussion.   Introduction   We are in the second week of a series called Wait, Jesus Said What? We’re looking at some of Jesus’ most startling and difficult sayings and work together to understand the truth he wants us to learn. In this discussion, we’re going to look at this statement from Jesus: “those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.” But before we think and talk about this, let’s start with something a bit easier!   Connect   Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions.   What is something you remember saying “That’s not fair!” about as a kid?   Are you usually the person who arrives early, right on time, or a little late?   When have you received something good that you didn’t expect or earn?   Opening   “That’s not fair!” Most of us learned to say those words pretty early in life. We have a strong instinct for fairness. We notice when someone gets more than we do, receives something we think they didn’t earn, or gets an opportunity we think should have been ours.   Fairness matters. But Jesus tells a surprising story that challenges the way we sometimes think about fairness when it comes to God.   Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly shows compassion to people who don’t seem to deserve it. Sometimes the surprising part isn’t God’s grace. It’s how people who have already experienced that grace respond when God extends it to someone else.   Jesus invites us not only to receive God’s grace, but to participate in it by helping others experience the same kindness and forgiveness we have received.    This leads us to our main idea for the week:  We can participate in God’s lavish grace.   Unpack   Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses.   Read   Matthew 20:1-16   In this passage, Jesus tells a story about workers hired at different times of the day who all receive the same generous payment.    Put yourself in the story. Which group of workers would have had the hardest time accepting the landowner’s decision? Why?   The first workers received exactly what they had agreed to receive. Why were they still unhappy?   What do you think is behind the landowner’s question, “Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?”   What would it look like for us to become people who are excited when someone else experiences God’s grace?   Read   Jonah 4:1-11   In this passage, God shows mercy to the people of Nineveh, but instead of celebrating, Jonah becomes angry because he wanted the evil people of Nineveh to get God’s judgment.   According to verses 2–3, what does Jonah already know about God’s character?   What seems ironic about Jonah appreciating God’s provision for him while resenting God’s compassion toward Nineveh?   Why do you think it can sometimes be difficult to see God show grace to someone we believe deserves consequences?   What does God’s final question reveal about the people he cares about?   Read   Psalm 103:8-12   In this passage, the psalm writer celebrates a God who is compassionate, patient, and willing to forgive rather than treating us according to what our sins deserve.   What words or phrases in this passage describe God?   Which description of God’s forgiveness stands out to you most?   How could regularly remembering God’s grace toward us change the way we respond to the failures of other people?   Action Step   This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways.   1.    Thank Jesus for the “unfair” ways he has forgiven you.   Take a few minutes this week to remember specific ways God has shown you patience, kindness, and forgiveness. Instead of comparing yourself to someone else, simply thank Jesus that he has given you more grace than you could ever earn.   2.    Treat someone with “unfair” grace.   Look for one opportunity to give someone more kindness than they expect. Forgive an offense. Give up the better seat or parking space. Include someone who feels left out. Encourage someone others overlook. Or invite someone to experience the community and grace you have found in Jesus.   As you think about these steps, what will you commit to this week? Share with the group so you can encourage and pray for one another.   Closing   We usually love grace when it is given to us. The challenge comes when God gives that same grace to someone we think deserves less.   But there isn’t a limited supply of God’s kindness. Someone else receiving grace doesn’t mean there is less for us.   Jesus invites us to move from simply receiving grace to participating in it. We can make room. We can welcome the latecomers. We can celebrate when someone who has been far from God discovers his love and forgiveness.   There’s always room for one more person to experience God’s lavish grace.   Pray Together   As we wrap up, we’ll go around and invite anyone to share anything they’d like prayer for together. You can share or just pass. Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close.   Missionary Focus    Tom P   Ministry Description   Tom P. is serving in the South Pacific through Youth With a Mission. He is on staff in Queenstown, New Zealand assisting with a discipleship training school and co-leading cross-cultural mission trips for students.    Prayer Requests:   For God to completely transform the lives of all the students   New doors in the South Pacific to be opened for the sake of the Gospel   Spend a few minutes in prayer for Tom   Reflection Verse for the Week   Read this verse, then encourage the practice of reflection and memorization throughout the week.   Psalm 103:10   “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.”   When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.   Daily Devotional Verses   Use the “Discovery Method” to reflect on the verses below.  For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions:     What do these verses reveal about who God is?    What do these verses reveal about us/others?    What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do?    Each day this week, you’ll read a verse related to…   Day 1: Exodus 34:6–7  Day 2: Psalm 86:5  Day 3: Luke 6:35–36  Day 4: Luke 15:1–7  Day 5: Ephesians 2:4–9  Day 6: Colossians 3:12–13   The post Unfair Grace appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  6. Aug 23

    Rip Off

    The words of Jesus in the New Testament can be a source of enormous comfort: “I will give you rest.” “I am with you always.” “I give you my peace.”  But Jesus wasn’t just a one-note positivity preacher – he was also known to use his public speaking to shock and challenge his listeners to teach them vital spiritual lessons.  Happening upon these lesser-understood passages from the Bible can confuse us even to this day.  Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Welcome to the first week of Life Groups! Let’s spend a few minutes getting acquainted (or reacquainted) before we begin. Please share your name with the group and if you’ve been a part of a life group at Journey of Faith before. Introduction  This week, we’re beginning a new series called Wait, Jesus Said What? We’ll look at some of Jesus’ most startling and difficult sayings and work together to understand the truth he wants us to learn. Today, were going to look at this confusing statement from Jesus: “If your eye or hand causes you to sin… gouge it out or cut it off.” Wait, what? But before we start discussing this, let’s start with something easier!  Connect  Let’s start our discussion time with some “get-to-know-you” questions.  What is something you have completely gotten rid of because you realized you didn’t need it anymore?  What is one habit you have successfully changed?  Are you more likely to make changes gradually or make one big change all at once?  Opening  We often try to manage unhealthy patterns through small adjustments. Most of us would rather deal with problems gradually. But sometimes something matters enough that a small adjustment isn’t enough; we need to take it seriously.  Jesus taught that sin is like that. Sin is anything that damages our relationship with God, others, or our own soul. Jesus wants us to recognize the damage sin can cause and be willing to take meaningful and sometimes radical steps to deal with it.  This leads us to our main idea for the week: We should respond seriously to sin in our lives.  Unpack  Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward, discuss each of the questions below the verse, before moving to the next set of verses.  Read  Matthew 5:27-30  In this passage, Jesus uses intentionally shocking language to show how seriously we should take anything that pulls our hearts away from God. His point is not to harm our bodies, but to remove what helps destructive desires grow.  What do you think makes Jesus’ words in this passage so startling?  Instead of focusing only on the sinful action, where does Jesus direct our attention?  What is the difference between trying harder to resist something and changing our circumstances so that temptation has less access to us?  How can taking sin seriously actually be an expression of God’s love for us rather than simply guilt or punishment?  Read Genesis 4:3-8  In this passage, we read the story of Cain and his brother Abel. God warns Cain that the anger growing inside him is becoming dangerous. God invites Cain to recognize what is happening in his heart before it becomes an action.  What emotions or attitudes seem to be growing inside Cain?  What warning does God give him?  What choices does Cain still have when God speaks to him?  What does this passage teach us about dealing with something before it grows into something more destructive?  Read  Proverbs 4:20-27  In this passage, the writer of Proverbs encourages us to pay careful attention to the direction of our lives, beginning with what is happening in our hearts.  What parts of a person’s life are mentioned in these verses?  Why do you think the writer places such importance on guarding the heart?  What connections do you see between our hearts, what we look at, what we say, and where we go?  What might “mark out a straight path for your feet” (v.26) look like in everyday life?  Action Step  This is where we take what we’ve discussed and put it into practice! Read the action steps below and discuss how you can live them out this week in practical ways. Have an honest conversation with Jesus about your heart.  Set aside a few quiet minutes this week and ask: What is happening in my heart that God wants me to notice? Pay attention not only to your actions, but also to the desires, anger, fears, envy, resentment, or other attitudes underneath them.  Create some distance from something that feeds a sinful habit.  Identify one practical “eye or hand” in your life, something that makes a particular temptation easier to act on. Consider one concrete step you could take to limit its influence or remove your access to it. If appropriate, ask someone you trust to help you follow through.  As you think about these steps, what will you commit to this week? Share with the group so you can encourage and pray for one another.  Closing  Jesus’ words about tearing out an eye or cutting off a hand sound extreme because he wants us to understand that what happens in our hearts matters.  God loves us too much to ignore the things that slowly damage our relationship with him, with others, or with ourselves. We don’t have to disguise them, minimize them, or hide them. We can bring them honestly to Jesus.  Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is create real distance between ourselves and something that is hurting us.  We should respond seriously to sin in our lives because God seriously cares about us.  Pray Together  As we wrap up, we’ll go around and invite anyone to share anything they’d like prayer for together. You can share or just pass. Also, below is a Journey of Faith Missionary we can pray for as we close.  Missionary Focus  Tom P **For some of our missionaries, certain details are kept private to protect their safety and the sensitive nature of their work. Thank you for understanding as we share what we can.  Ministry Description  Tom P. is serving in the South Pacific through Youth With a Mission. He is on staff in Queenstown, New Zealand assisting with a discipleship training school and co-leading cross-cultural mission trips for students.   Prayer Requests:  For God to completely transform the lives of all the students  New doors in the South Pacific to be opened for the sake of the Gospel  Spend a few minutes in prayer for Tom   Reflection Verse for the Week  Read this verse, then encourage the practice of reflection and memorization throughout the week.  Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.  Daily Devotional Verses  Use the “Discovery Method” to reflect on the verses below.  For each passage of Scripture, ask yourself these questions:    What do these verses reveal about who God is?   What do these verses reveal about us/others?   What do these verses invite or inspire you to think, feel, or do?   Each day this week, you’ll read a verse related to…  Day 1: Psalm 51:10–12 Day 2: Proverbs 28:13 Day 3: Romans 6:11–14 Day 4: 1 Corinthians 10:12–13 Day 5: James 1:13–16 Day 6: 1 John 1:8–9  The post Rip Off appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  7. Aug 16

    How to Make a Decision

    In our final week of this message series we’ll put everything we’ve learned into practice and get ready to make a big decision with God’s help. What does God want me to do next? What is God’s vision for my future? How can I decide between two good options? What happens if I choose wrong? We’ll address all of these questions and more as we work together to hear the voice of Jesus. Watch Full Service Our Groups take a seasonal break during the summer, so there’s no new discussion material available right now. In the meantime, feel free to explore additional studies, guides, and resources anytime at journeyoffaith.com/group-resources/. The post How to Make a Decision appeared first on Journey of Faith.

  8. Aug 9

    Listening with our Hearts and Minds

    As we seek to hear God’s voice of guidance in our lives, we can often be distracted or confused by our own emotions and thought patterns. But what if our feelings and intellect could be better understood and harnessed as powerful tools of discernment? This week in our “Voice of Jesus” series we’ll learn more about the incredible gifts God has given each of us to bring our whole selves into the process of hearing his direction. Watch Full Service Our Groups take a seasonal break during the summer, so there’s no new discussion material available right now. In the meantime, feel free to explore additional studies, guides, and resources anytime at journeyoffaith.com/group-resources/. The post Listening with our Hearts and Minds appeared first on Journey of Faith.

See All (203)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Journey of Faith. In this podcast you will hear the weekly message from Journey of Faith, s multi-site church with campuses in Manhattan Beach and Torrance, CA..

Information

You Might Also Like