You never thought it could happen to you, then one day you wake up and you have become that person you never thought you would be. That person who is cynical, disconnected, prideful, burned out, and even that person who makes compromises. This week we are starting a series called Didn’t See it Coming based on a book by Carey Nieuwhof. We will wrestle with the above challenges together and see how God’s word provides encouragement and tools to help us overcome them.

This week we looked at the tendency to be disconnected that plagues our culture.

Proverbs 12:18-20 (NLT)

“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!”

Next Steps

-Turn off social media. Take a 24, 48 or 72-hour break from social media. Delete the apps from your phone if it will help.

-Set tech and media rules for yourself. (i.e. no phone or TV after 10:00 p.m. or no phones at mealtimes)

-Be intentional about improving your listening and communication skills.

-Find an accountability partner.

Castle Hills Christian Church

San Antonio, TX 78213

chccsa.com

chccsa.info

You never thought it could happen to you, then one day you wake up and you have become that person you never thought you would be. That person who is cynical, disconnected, prideful, burned out, and even that person who makes compromises. This week we are starting a series called Didn’t See it Coming based on a book by Carey Nieuwhof. We will wrestle with the above challenges together and see how God’s word provides encouragement and tools to help us overcome them.

This week we explored compromises of our character and how they can erode our integrity.

2 Samuel 11:1-5 (NLT)

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.

He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

Signs You are Drifting

1. There’s a growing gap between your public life and private life

2. You are hiding things

3. You are not being honest

4. You justify your bad actions or decisions

5. Your life has become all about you

Next Steps:

-In what areas and at what times is it easiest for you to compromise?

-Do you have a secret that you need to confess?

-Who is your Nathan? Which person in your life will call you out when you are compromising?

Castle Hills Christian Church

San Antonio, TX 78213

chccsa.com

chccsa.info

You never thought it could happen to you, then one day you wake up and you have become that person you never thought you would be. That person who is cynical, disconnected, prideful, burned out, and even that person who makes compromises. This week we are starting a series called Didn’t See it Coming based on a book by Carey Nieuwhof. We will wrestle with the above challenges together and see how God’s word provides encouragement and tools to help us overcome them. This series perfect for someone who is hurting and who needs a little encouragement.

This week we explored cynicism.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-8,16-18

Next Steps

-Are you prone to cynicism? Who or what has influenced your cynicism?

-What is one thing mentioned today that you will do to fight cynicism?

-Meditate on Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)

Castle Hills Christian Church

San Antonio, TX 78213

chccsa.com

chccsa.info

When Jesus sat down to eat and celebrate the Passover with his followers, he knew he was eating with people who would let him down and even betray him.

Next Steps

Consider which of these four Apostles do you relate to the most?

Who do you need to invite to your table?

Castle Hills Christian Church

San Antonio, TX

chccsa.com

chccsa.info

We often think of the feeding of the 5,000 as a story about Jesus miraculously providing food, which it is. But we also need to understand Jesus provided because his followers did not. Jesus was not inconvenienced by needy people, he welcomed them. Jesus also asks his followers to care about people in need and provide for them.

Next Steps:

• Take an inventory of your resources and find a creative way to help someone in need this week.

• Donate or volunteer this week at the church’s food pantry, West Avenue Compassion or the San Antonio Food Bank.

• Prepare a meal for someone in need.

Castle Hills Christian Church

San Antonio, TX 78213

chccsa.com

chccsa.info

Jesus was often invited to parties and social events. At one of these events, an uninvited guest showed up, a women with a bad reputation. This women proceeded to wash Jesus's feet with her tears and anoint them with oil. Jesus accepted her beautiful act of worship.

Next Steps:

Think about what powerful worship experience have you had? What made it meaningful?

What are some ways you can keep your worship from being in a rut, feeling stale or being a ritual?

How can we guard against attitudes like Simon’s that judge other people’s worship?

Castle Hills Christian Church

San Antonio, TX

chccsa.com

chccsa.info

Almost every major event or celebration is occasioned by a big meal. This isn’t true of only our culture. People have been feasting for generations all over the world. A shared meal has great power to bind people together in shared memory and celebration.

This week we kicked off this series by looking at how Jesus treated a woman with a bad reputation who showed up uninvited at a dinner party. Jesus welcomed her, just as she was and pushed back against the religious people who judged her. Like Jesus, our tables should be open to everyone.

Every relationship is difficult and for love to endure through every circumstance, we have to practice forgiveness.

Hope is more than an idea or a dream. Hope motivates us to live differently and love relentlessly. As we love our friends and family, we must bring hope to others.

Faith is more than a set of believes. Faith is being moved to action. As followers of Jesus our love should move us to action. As Bob Goff says, "Love is never stationary."