Coming Soon in February...

FEARLESS

Let's face it. All of us are afraid of something, whether it's clowns and spider or heights and water or failure and rejection. No matter what we all fear something. Week 2 in the study of Acts brought about the bottom line that the Church as it should be, should be FEARLESS!

Acts 3:1-10 tells the story of Peter healing the lame beggar and proclaiming the gospel of Christ and you know what happened because of this. Acts 4 shows us that he was arrested and 2000 came to know Jesus as Savior. Think about it. Put yourself in his position. If you knew you were going to be arrested or even die would you still have proclaimed the Good News? Sadly the answer for to many of us is the answer would be no. But the thing is Peter had no fear because he knew no matter the consequence the only thing to fear was God alone.

We all too often listen to our fears versus listening to God's leading. What would happen if we begun to listen to God alone and ignored our fears of rejection, failure, persecution, and being outcasted for our beliefs??? We need to come to the place where we simply trust Jesus' leading. Trust that our Father only has the best in mind. Remember we are His BELOVED.

Peter had no clue what would happen and what was at stake in following Jesus but he followed because he loved and trusted his heavenly Father. What is it in your life that God is calling you to do that you are afraid to do? Is it to love the out cast in your class, tell others that you are a Christian, is it to respect your parents when everyone else is bashing theirs? What ever it may be that He is calling you to, know that He is with you, He loves you and because of those things you can FEARLESSLY do the things He calls you to.

Surrender

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:30 (NLT)

TOTAL SURRENDER INVOLVES . . .

1. A Surrendered HEART!

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.’” Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT)

A surrendered heart is the first step to being totally surrendered to God. Without a surrendered heart you will remain focused on yourself and miss out on the things that have Eternal value.

* What would it look like for you to have a Surrendered Heart?

2. A Surrendered WILL!

This is the outward expression of a surrendered heart. This is where our words and actions collide with our beliefs. This is what James talk’s about in his letter to early Christians. Look what he says,

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 (NLT)

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42 (NLT)

Jesus knew it wasn’t about His pleasure but about Gods Glory. A surrendered will is where follow-through happens. It’s what allows others to see Christ in us.

* What areas do you find it hardest to surrender?

3. A Surrendered PLAN!

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”’ Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?”

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

* Share a time that God's plan & your plan were totally different? What did you do?

4. A Surrendered LIFE!

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

* What keeps you from a surrendered life?