Discovery Church

Who is someone who is close to you but far from God? 

Another way we say it around Discovery is “Who is your 1?” Jesus told the story of the good shepherd who had 100 sheep. He brought them back from a day of grazing and there were 99. Jesus left the 99 and went after the one. If you are a disciple of Jesus you are part of the 99 which means God has put people in your life who are close to you but far from Him for you to help introduce to Jesus and to help disciple them.

God wants each of us to go on a life-long journey with Him and with others.

That word “with” is a powerful word. If we were to ask you “Who are you with?” What list would you begin to formulate? When we surround ourselves with great partnerships we get to take part in a relationship going in the same direction making a last impact in the arenas we live in.

We underestimate the power we’ve been given as individuals, as a collective group, as a a local community. It’s a convincing lie from Satan that we’re helpless and it keeps us complaining, blaming, and waiting. But the truth is from every angle, that the people have the power. The people have always had the power. We don’t need a king, because we already have one. The king down here needs us, we don’t need them. We just need to put on our prescription glasses and do what can see to do right now.

Samson was a broken hero, just as you and I are broken people. But Samson points to a better hero. His life as a fallen and imperfect judge points to the perfect Judge who was to come in Jesus.

Jesus finishes what Samson started. Jesus is the Leader we do NOT deserve. Both were announced and miraculous births but Jesus was never led by his impulses but by the Father's will.

We all have that one 'junk drawer' in our house that is a catch all. We also have another junk drawer that we are probably unaware of when it comes to beliefs in spiritual things. Where people pick and choose their virtues from here and spiritual ideas from over here and sprinkle in this one thing that I heard about on social media and they mix it together to form their religion which looks nothing like the way of Jesus.

Traps can cause problems for a few generations. But grace, love, compassion, mercy—with God’s help—can have an impact for a millennia. These values learned from God can break cycles, stopping them dead in their tracks.

Gideon is not your typical hero. When we first met him last week he was hiding out on his farm threshing wheat in a wine press. But God calls him “my mighty warrior” because he doesn’t see him for what he currently is but what He can do through him with His power. He does the same with us.

What would life be like, in any situation, if you knew God was with you?

God is in control and on our side. When we were at our worst and hopeless because of our sin God turned it for his plan and our side. So we know he can do the same in the dark times in our lives too.

Men and women are created equally by God and called to partnership with Him and each other. As we look further into the book of Judges we see the story of Deborah which shows us a leader of Israel that brought wise counsel and judgement.