Focus: Sacrifice?  Really?  “We often hear the call to discipleship only through the lens of sacrifice (looking at what we are losing).  But Jesus rarely spoke this way!  When He talked about discipleship, He always spoke through the lens of investment, looking at what we were gaining.” pg.11-12 “Oikonomics”  Today we are graciously invited to apprentice with Jesus and learn what it really means to “have it all.”
Main Text: Matthew 6:24-33

Focus: Over the past 7 weeks we have been learning the Periodic Table of Leadership in the Kingdom of God as Jesus lived it out.  The basic elements of this table are in every Jesus-follower.  Given to you at the moment of faith, He calls you, yes, invites YOU to live these out as you follow Jesus! Main Text:  Acts 4:1-13

Focus: We underestimate the capacity to influence that God has given us in Jesus. Therefore, instead of focusing on one act of Jesus-centered love, we fixate on the expanse of the mission field in front of us.  And it keeps us stuck; immobilized. WE can’t follow Jesus where He is moving if we don’t move.  We can’t lead others to move where Jesus is moving if we don’t move.  And, We won’t realize the catalytic movement Jesus empowers if we don’t move.  

What if you would learn to embrace the limitations and accept responsibility for your walkable community?  Jesus humbled Himself, embracing the limitation of human flesh, and accepting responsibility for your sin--all in a well-defined place called Palestine in the first century.  (John 1:14) This is how the Savior saves the world!  Followers of Jesus have the distinct advantage of following a leader who is ALWAYS CATALYTIC!  As we follow Him we learn what it means to be change-agents, impactful persons in our place, influencers, to the Glory of God. Main Text: Matthew 10:1-8

Focus: We make our plans.  And, most of the time, we will fight and resist anything that comes up against those plans.  We want what we want when we want it, in the way that we want it.  And because of that, most days, we are not coachable.  Therefore, we cannot react.  We find it difficult to change course.  Tightly gripping control, we are filled with tension and anxiety.  Jesus never did anything on His own.  He always took the situation to the One who was in control.  He always looked to and trusted His Father.  Jesus had an intimate relationship with Him.  Therefore, Jesus was never out of step with His Father.  Because He was so inseparably connected to His Father, we can be assured that whatever Jesus says and does is in harmony with God’s design and intention.    Followers of Jesus have the distinct advantage of following a leader who is ALWAYS RESPONSIVE!  As we follow Him we learn what it means to be obedient, awake, aware, dependent, perceptive, reactive, sensitive. Main Text: John 15:4-5

Focus: We are swayed so easily by the opinions of men.  And, because we are so easily influenced by others’ needs and desires, our dependability suffers.  Jesus is a savior we can always count on.  Because He devoted Himself to His Father’s will to redeem His people, Jesus was not merely interested in making sure our needs were met.  He served His Father and not people.  On account of this, He can always be trusted.  He is not influenced by the fickle needs and desires of human beings.  He can actually be trusted to have our best interests in mind.  Followers of Jesus have the distinct advantage of following a leader who is ALWAYS TRUSTWORTHY!  As we follow Him we learn what it means to be faithful, dependable, steady, credible, honorable, mature. Main Text: John 10:11-15; Ezekiel 34:2-6