Genesis 1:26-28: When God created us as adults in His image, he gave us authority and responsibility.

1 Corinthians 13:11-13

1. Letting go is part of growing up.

An adult’s perspective is a shift

Dependence > Independence > Interdependence

Must mature in talk, thought, and reason

“Childlike” is not the same as “childish”

Additional Scripture: Luke 16:10, Matthew 23:8-10

2. Life is more gray than you thought.

Faith offers peace, not proofs; assurances, not answers

The Serenity Prayer is an adult’s prayer

3. Love is the most important.

You can only give true love if you’re free in Christ

The Law of God (like rules for a child) is a path to lead us to Jesus, who gives grace and a choice to love (which we have as adults)

Additional Scripture: Galatians 5:13

Check Yourself

Do you have an excessive need for approval or “fear of man”?

Do you have feelings of inferiority around other adults?

Do you have an unhealthy attitude toward authority?

Respect is different than reverence

We are brothers and sisters, on this journey together!

Aim

God expects us, as adults, to demonstrate certain behaviors as we mature in Christ and in general.

Application Questions

Which of the expectations laid out here touches you the most, either because you have seen yourself demonstrate it or because you know you are not?

Number 1 discusses letting go of certain things as part of growing up. What do you need to let go of to further mature in Christ?

Are there things you need to let go of to let others grow up (your children, spouse, friends)?

Have you had any times where you struggled to lean on the peace of your faith, and not the proofs, the assurances and not the answers? How did that affect your walk with Jesus?

Think about a time when you’ve felt freedom in Christ. Did you let that feeling allow you to love others freely? How did that affect you?

How do you think you can take a step forward in either (1) reducing your need for approval, (2) reducing your feelings of inferiority, or (3) improving your unhealthy attitude toward authority?

1. Some people remember that when they were a teen, it was hard to communicate with adults. Some adults think it’s hard to communicate with teens.

2. When people do risky activities, we might wonder what they’re thinking: “their bodies are a temple; they’re flirting with disaster.”

3. Other ways teens flirt with disaster include with their grades, parents, and relationships with the opposite sex.

4. A lot of things compete for teens’ hearts, time and energy.

5. Some people look at adolescence as a transitional time leading to “the good stuff.” It’s easy to get frustrated with this stage.

6. Jesus grew in wisdom. Wisdom is the growth of intelligence and development of knowledge; we attain it through experience and life.

7. We should never look away from wisdom; use it to walk safely through life and let others see it. Prov. 3:21-23

8. We should ask God for wisdom. James 1:5

9. Jesus grew in stature. He learned what His body could do and couldn’t do, as we all do.

10. We want people to like us; we want to be favored and receive pats on the back.

11. Jesus grew in favor with God. That starts with a relationship with Him, repenting and accepting His sacrifice and forgiveness.

12. Jesus interacted with the scriptures. Luke 2:46-47

13. Church should be a safe place to ask questions, but some people don’t like it when others question things. They might say that the questions aren’t necessary, or they’re uncomfortable because they don’t know the answers.

14. Students need a safe place to engage and ask questions. We and they can search for the answer if we don’t know it; that’s how we grow in favor with God.

15. People who aren’t content with a pat answer are people who grow in spite of their doubt.

16. Jesus grew in favor with people. This is social growth, where we learn how to challenge and encourage others to live better. It involves giving and receiving.

17. How we can influence teens to have more favor with others:

~ adventure – experience life and figure out passions

~ boldness – hear cries of lost friends and do something about it – share faith

~ community – need place to ask tough questions and engage others in discussion

18. Goals of student ministry:

~ Have an adult other than parents interact with students weekly.

~ Renew our language and think about students.

~ Use your talents and abilities to engage students on their turf.

19. Revival in the nation starts in the hearts and minds of young people; they can start by changing Westerville and Columbus.

Aim

Adolescence should be a period of growing and learning, not just a transitional time to something better. Adults should use their gifts to invest in teens’ lives to help them grow and learn.

Application Questions

1. What do you remember about your time as a teen? Would you describe your teen years as good, bad, or in between/other?

2. What are some ways you’ve flirted with disaster?

3. When you were a teen, did you feel like you were being pushed to be older and move on to the next stage of life? Who pushed you and how?

4. How do you encourage people to enjoy the stage of life they’re in? What are some ways other people encourage you?

5. What would be your top/most important proverbs or advice for a teen? Do you agree with Dustyn’s top five?

6. What are some things you wish your body could do? What are some things you could do when you were younger that you can’t do anymore?

7. Do you take time to listen and answer people’s questions? What do you do if you don’t know the answer? What was a tough question you’ve asked someone? One that someone asked you?

8. Are you willing to take time to invest in the growth of students, and what are some ways you can invest?

Dustyn’s top 5 proverbs for teens:

1. Love’s not automatic; it’s a choice.

2. Hard work doesn’t equal success.

3. The more effort it takes to prove you’re something, the less likely you are what you’re trying to be.

4. There will be days you feel lost, hurt, and sad, and that’s OK.

5. We have to persevere through normalcy.

1. At Heritage, we are fortunate to have a broad demographic, diverse, and dynamic congregation. Because of this diversity, we have blessings and benefits as a congregation.

2. Endearing qualities of children are in the sayings: “they have the heart of a child” or “you are a kid at heart.” (Psalm 127:3-5)

3. A Child’s Heart: There’s an example that needs to be followed. Matthew 18: 1-5 A child’s outlook, attitude, mindset, and disposition are required to enter the Kingdom.

4. Jesus describes life in an upside down perspective. Kingdom leadership is not about using people to serve you but about you serving others—in the child-like sense of being unassuming, more unpretentious, more honest.

5. How we care for the least really does reveal how much we care for Christ. Children can teach us more than we might realize. Children are quick to forgive, to accept someone new, to show affection and to trust.

6. Biblical justice: God is the ultimate defender of the weak and defenseless and He has the final word.

7. A Child’s Heart: There’s an innocence that needs to be protected. Matthew 18:6-10. Some of the strongest, weightiest words of Jesus are in these scriptures. The whole emphasis is on how severe the judgment will be on those who damage a child’s faith causing them to turn away from God.

8. If you cause a child to stumble—take advantage of them, harm or abuse them, do something that will be damaging to them, it will be devastating to you. Better to be drowned or remove what causes you to cause harm to others.

9. A Child’s Heart: There’s an openness that needs to be encouraged. Matthew 19:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:14-15 Children come to Christ when children learn about Jesus—a man who is gentle and kind, who loves kids and kids love Him, forgives sins, heals diseases, and listens and talks to children.

10. Parents are by far the most effective at leading their children to Christ, followed by the Sunday School and AWANA volunteers. All of us followers of Jesus can help to encourage the faith of little ones.

11. We need to make sure we are a community that cares for the little ones, the weak and vulnerable ones. Serving and helping with our children’s ministry is one way to embrace the generations.

Aim

Connect 2020, Now, Next, Always is about moving us toward each other, Christ, and the world. We do this by embracing all generations. Each generation adds so much to the rest of us.

Application Questions

1. How do you view children—as insignificant or important?

2. Discuss the upside down perspective that Jesus describes in the life of His Kingdom.

3. Discuss your outlook about God’s Kingdom—are you willing to ask for help, to accept His offer of grace, be honest and have humility?

4. How do you handle power and authority?

5. What does it mean to cause a child to stumble?

6. Have you ever been stumbled by someone and it turned your heart away? Explain.

7. How can you share Christ to a little one?

John 3:16 reminds us that God sent Jesus because He loved the whole world, and that whoever believes in Him will receive eternal life.

The Gospel is not for a select few, a priveleged few, a certain group of people. The Gospel is meant for everyone.

Society today is heavily focused on self-sufficiency and self-containment. We have a tendency to want to accomplish everything on our own. We want to surround ourselves with people who look, think, and act like we do. But God calls us to share the good news, The Gospel, with everyone.

God’s heart is open, inviting, welcoming.

When Jesus called out the 12, they weren’t men of prominence or wealth, they were nobodies. They were men who were largely unnoticed, even a tax collector, who was seen as the lowest of the low. Jesus did not discriminate. Everyone was wanted and welcome to follow him.

In Acts 6, we see that, when the church was in its infancy, it experienced many challenges with dividing itself into those who were “better” than others. Believing Jews saw themselves as superior to non-Jews, the Gentiles.

The welcome of God implies a global reach, a multi-racial community. But when we don’t want to willingly obey God, sometimes He gives us a much-needed kick in the pants. (Acts 8:1-4)

Acts 10 tells us the story of God asking Peter to eat food that would violate the Kosher laws of Judaism. We also see God using the Romans (Gentiles) to have Peter bring the Gospel to Cornelius the Centurion. But Peter didn’t just give the message and leave, he stayed with them. He ate with them. He shared life with them. He developed a relationship with them.

But we continually need God’s help with loving all of His children because we have a natural tendency to fall back into the easy, safe place of only loving people who are like us.

Aim

The trajectory of the Gospel points towards inclusion, not exclusion. No favoritism, no partiality, no attitudes of superiority, no discrimination or racism. It’s working hard and learning to welcome and embrace those who are now in Christ, all peoples. (Galatians 3:28)

Application Questions

How have you seen God move when you embraced and loved others who are different from you?

Have you encountered any persecution or ridicule from others, simply because you chose to develop relationships with people who are different from you? How did you respond? Would you respond differently now?

Ask Jesus in what ways you can embrace this resolution of welcoming more peoples and think of some practical ways you can extend The Gospel and the love of Jesus to all people.

Matthew 14:22-33 is an amazing story of who Jesus is, but even more, it’s a story of Peter’s faith and willingness to take a risk.

All of the men on the boat had seen miracles but only Peter translated that experience into faith in this circumstance.

“Faith is spelled R-I-S-K.”

Matthew 14:22 — Jesus forced them into the storm – rough times are not always contrary to God’s will.

We need to move from self-reliance to dependence, from “I can’t” to “He will,” and from our natural comfort zone to a faith zone.

Matthew 14:24-25 — Following Jesus isn’t easy.

Matthew 14:26-27 — Don’t fear (said 365 times in the Bible – one for every day!).

I’m with you (literally, “I AM here”).

Be strong.

Matthew 14:28-29 — The act seems small, but may be life-changing for the individual (Peter), which we see in Matt. 16:15-17.

He didn’t do it for attention, but because it was what was right.

Aim

Take a risk for Jesus; get out of your boat!

Application Questions

Do you have any examples of times you have not taken a risk or stepped out in faith for Christ when you had an opportunity? Why didn’t you?

How do you think taking a risk might change your relationship with Jesus?

Do you have any examples of a time you did take a risk or leap of faith for Jesus? How did you feel? Do you think you were rewarded?

Have you had any experiences like Peter, where you felt really moved by the Spirit and your faith was strengthened? Did you translate that into risk-taking?

Can you think of other people in the Bible who you admire for taking a risk for Jesus? What can we learn from them?

1. A new year can be a lot like the old unless we resolve otherwise.

2. No accomplishment or achievement just happens; they all start with a resolution that the way it is now doesn’t have to be the way it continues to be.

3. I believe in a God who has unlimited ability. Nothing is impossible for Him; He is able and He is for us.

4. I believe that I have a divine responsibility. Opportunities that come our way are temporary, on loan from God. We will have to give an account of how we used what He entrusted us with.

5. Life is measured by what we distribute, not accumulate — how much we give away and the lives we touch.

6. This sermon series will be about three resolutions Jim is making, and his hope is that we will join him in them. The first resolution is: make more investments — give away more of what I have. Accumulating stuff is like burying it; giving away is investing.

7. I can’t fill everyone’s cup, but I can empty mine.

8. The Master has entrusted us with wealth, and we should manage it like He would — grow and increase it.

9. Some people think the disparity in distribution of wealth is a problem, but God’s OK with not giving to each of us equally. We don’t all have the same abilities.

10. We’ll receive more because of faithfulness and fruitfulness.

11. What we say to ourselves about why we haven’t done more with what God gave us shows our perspective about God; we blame Him or make excuses about what He gave us and how He made us. The words we use in our excuses are what expose us.

12. The real issue with the third servant was his heart; he was lazy and self-centered.

13. We all want to hear that we’re good servants, but it won’t happen without some resolve and intentional actions now.

14. Seasons of life change. We need to consider how to steward what God’s given us, do the most with it to bless others while we have it. It’s time to invest and not just bury what God’s given us; do what makes our Master happy.

Aim

God has entrusted us with something of value/worth and we have an opportunity and responsibility to do something with it, to invest it. God expects that, and it’s unacceptable to do nothing with it and make excuses.

Application Questions

1. Do you generally make New Year’s resolutions? What are some specific ones you made this year or in past years?

2. What are some ways your family and friends judge your life? How do you judge it? What are some ways you judge others?

3. What are some ways you fill other people’s cups?

4. Do you complain about what you don’t have or say it’s not fair that others have different gifts? How do you compare yourself with others? Are there abilities or talents you wish you had?

5. What do you have to show for what God has given you?

6. What are your excuses for not doing more?

7. Do you think about pleasing God when you make decisions? Is God happy with the way you’re using the gifts He’s given you? Describe why or why not.

8. How can you make a difference this year?