Mandarin Baptist Church

We are on the winning side of eternity, yet have done nothing to contribute to that victory. It is entirely based upon Gods work of salvation. His prayer is not that we try harder, or do better, but that we fully trust in what He accomplished for us, and how He is continually working in us even now. If we are deeply convinced of this gospel of Jesus, it will unite us under His name.

The Prayer of Jesus (3)
John 17.9-12

Jesus is praying for you.  

*Consider this quote: ‘preach the gospel to yourself every day throughout the day’.  What could it mean to speak the truth of your position in Christ daily?  In what ways is it liberating to know that Christ has completed all that you need in Him and that your role is to seek and to believe?  

* John wrote that, 'They are convinced that I have come from your presence, and they have fully believed that you sent me to represent you'. - John 17.8   What do you believe about Jesus that convinces others of His grace and goodness? How has your convictions shaped your actions today?
*Jesus prayed that our unity in the truth of the gospel is beautiful to those who don’t yet know Him?  As you read John 17, what unites us as followers of Jesus?  According to Jesus’ prayer, why must we value the beauty of ‘US’? US > ME! 

*Jesus said, …..my glory is revealed through their totally surrendered lives. - John 17.10  How is our Mandarin family doing as an ‘US" in the joy of unveiling Jesus to our community? How might we magnify the good news of the riches of Christ more visibly because we are an ‘US'. 

So, how did you do today…. Oh, I won!

DNOW MAKE IT MATTER Acts 7

Take a moment to read through Acts 7. What are some things that surprise you? What is something you take away from this scripture? 

How are you actively apart of His story right now? If you are not engaging in God’s story right now, what needs to change? What is holding you back from living on mission? 

Has there ever been a moment where you didn’t listen to a prompting of the Holy Spirit? What might be God leading you towards right now? 

Stephen had no clue how his step of obedience would impact the kingdom of Christ. The gospel scattering to the nations. The conversion of Saul to Paul and the flourishing of the church. What circumstances do you think God could be using now to impact the Kingdom of God? In what ways do you hope God will use your life? 

If you are doing this with another person would you pray for three things over them.
1) That they would engage in God’s story.
2) They would be sensitive to the Spirit and God at work in our lives.
3) They would have a life of eternal impact.

The prayer of Jesus is His heart connecting our heart with the Father's heart. Nothing at all can separate us from the love of God, as Jesus is constantly and passionately moving toward us, working in us, and interceding for us. Jesus' rescue and salvation reaches all the way into the darkest crevices of our souls.

John 17.6-8

Father, I have manifested who you really are and I have revealed you to the men and women that you gave me. They are yours…. - Jesus, in John 17.6

* The work of Jesus on your behalf is a finished work. He has completed your salvation, rescue, forgiveness, present, future and the eternal. It is finished. Jesus’ current work is to pray for you. Jesus always lives to intercede for you. (Hebrews 7.25).  He is praying that you see and that you believe what He has already completed. What is your first thought, as you learn that Jesus lives to pray for you?  Perhaps, Jesus knows that our hearts are in need of revelation. We are in need of eyes to see and ears to hear all that is completed in you. Will you lift your face and your hands, asking that you would take in all that He has completed on your behalf? It may be wise to create a journal for all the He will reveal to you through worship and in the Word.  

* Because the word of Christ was received and believed, there was an ever increasing certainty about Jesus. In what ways has God ‘fastened His work firmly in your heart'?

When we read John 17, we see a glimpse into the heart of Jesus. His heart is full of passion and focus. His heart is aimed on giving glory to the Father, but also on the love He has for his followers. Even then, we were in His heart, His mind, and His prayer. 

Focus for this Week: John 17.1-5

 ‘The Son of God… loved me and gave Himself for me.’ His heart for me could not sit still. 

* Wonder… In this prayer, the heart of Jesus is one of glory, beauty, eternity and promise. His posture is that of awe.  The Hebrew word for His uplifted face AND hands is Yadah.  It’s the posture of transcendent worship. Will you spend the week asking that our God stir the wonder for His eternal in your soul? Be intentional in responding in worship. Perhaps, even stretch a bit in lifting your face and hands in awe.  In doing so, you will surely find commonality with your Redeemer, Jesus. 

* Redemption… You are known, pursued, purchased and redeemed by Jesus. His heart is for you. His heart could not be still in heaven nor could it the slowed on the road to the cross. In this prayer, Jesus defines Himself as before time began, while also making His way into the narrow corridors of your soul. How does knowing His heart give clarity to your own?  What does it mean to you to be loved relentlessly? What is a  proper response to such love?

* Complete… the work is done, yet His story still unfolding. How does that impact your hope and expectancy? How does walking in the mystery of His story shape your view of life? What about the spark of your imagination as you consider that there is FAR more…?  In what way is a posture of worship (Yadah) important in light of Jesus’ unfolding story?

Jesus heart for me does not sit still.  May your heart for Him never grow still.

In Jesus, we are not who we once more. All things are made new in Jesus. It is all through Him, and by Him, and ultimately for Him. This is who we are, and this is what we pass on from generation to generation to generation.

DNA (4)

Scripture:
* Ephesians 1.1-2
* Ephesians 1.3-14

Hello, my name is Paul…. 

* God is making all things new. He is changing our ‘name’ (Ephesians 1.1), which is the totality of our character into His own.  How is Jesus making Himself at home in you? In what ways is God changing your character, priorities, passions, purpose and steps?  Take a moment and celebrate the ways that He is planting His heart into yours.  

* As Pastor Mark talked about David and the passion that He had for the name of God, he spoke about the ‘roar’ of Goliath.  Goliath’s cry was, ‘come and fight. Is there anyone who will step into the arena.'  Most shrunk back, but not David. What is it about David’s character that made him different?  What was His focus?  I Samuel 17 is a beautiful telling of a man who knows why he is on this earth and WHO is fighting on his behalf (v.45)…. What do you learn from David about God’s character and your purpose? How do we live and move in the strength of the Lord?  (Read Ephesians 1.3-6 as a reminder)

* This will be written for a generation to come, and a people who have not yet been created will praise the Lord. Psalm 102.18. We are living a story of people teeming with confidence in our God.  Read Ephesians 3.1-14  1- Pray that God will remind you of your new name and the fullness of your identity in Him.  2- Thank Him for who He is and what He has done as you make your way through the Scripture.  3- Ask Him to forgive you for seeking your identity and fulfillment outside Him. 4- With open hands and heart, trust Him with your life. Ask Jesus that His life determine and define your own.

In Christ, we are not who we once were.

As a church, and as individuals, we were placed here in this world and season for a purpose. We might never see all the results of our lives fully devoted to Christ, but we are called to live on mission and to befriend faithfulness. As a people after the heart of God, we should find our delight in the Lord, and we will find ourselves faithful to His purposes.

Scripture: Psalm 37:3-5

If you are leading in the middle of this, there is a reason that you are leading in the middle of this. 

1- How is your thinking shifted, when you move from a ‘goal-setting’ faith to becoming a 'person of revelation’?  The psalmist writes that ‘without revelation, people run wild.’ (29.18)  Because God sets the purposes; defines the direction; prepares the way, what is your role  as you trust in the Lord and as you do what is good?  (Psalm 37.3-5)  How will you discover more of His character?

2- We delight in Jesus: He shapes our hearts. Practically, what does it look like to delight in Jesus? Describe God’s heart or His character…as you venture through the Scripture, journal what you see of His heart or His passion. Invite the Spirit of God to form this same heart's delight within you? Let this be an on-going pursuit of the heart of our God. 

3- We are to dwell where God has placed us and to befriend faithfulness. When you look behind you, at the trail of your life, what do you see? Faithfulness is most often seen as you look back. In light of what you see, what do you need to do more? To adjust and do differently? to re-ignite? To stop?  

Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. - Psalms 37:3-5 (CSB)

Who we are as individuals, and as a church, is not determined by external forces; it is by the indwelling Holy Spirit within us. He is our internal supply, and we should abide in Jesus. When we start to let go of our desire to be in control of our lives, we will begin to see Gods wonders in and through us.

Scripture: Psalm 145.4-7; John 15.4-6

Pastor Mark talked about two lakes in the Keystone/ Melrose area.  One thriving and filled with life and the other, receding and drying up. The difference is that one has an internal supply and the other does not. Jesus spoke to His disciples in this way: I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. -- John 15:5 (CSB)

In light of this truth, Pastor Mark closed his teaching with these questions:

* Within our Mandarin family, what gives evidence of the internal work of the Spirit?
* What are habits that cut trails for the Word to be alive among us?
* When your life and scripture compete, have you already said ‘yes’ to the Word as truth?
* Knowing that we offer nothing apart from Christ, what is one step that you will make today to rekindle this gift of God?

Jesus has not invited us to populate a church to make our dreams come true. Our dreams, much like the early disciples, are always too small.  We are here to fulfill God’s work. His dreams. His plans. That is the only abundance that we seek; that he gain glory in our lives and through His church.

As we enter the new year, we evaluate our mission: to demonstrate God's love to a broken world. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This will lead us to multiply and reproduce that kind of love in our faith family, but also our community. 

Scripture - Psalm 145: Matthew 22.37-39; Matthew 28.18-20

1- The most important idea ever given is that we ‘love God with our heart and soul; our mind and strength.’ (Matthew 22) 

 * If it is true that you love what you know, how are you growing in the knowledge of God?  Consider the various pursuits of God described in Matthew 22. How are you doing in pursuit of Him?
 * Venture to Philippians 3.7-14 and sit down with a man whose sole desire is to know Christ. Read and Learn; Ponder and Apply.

2-  I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.  They will proclaim the power of your awe inspiring acts and I will declare your greatness.  - Psalm 145.5 - 6
 * You are called to incite wonder and to fuel passion

 * How is God using you to incite wonder that is beyond your greatest imagination?  Talk about this… Remove your limits… Ask for revelation to see more of Him… increase your view of God… speak that beautiful view into others. 
 * How is God using you to fuel passion in the hearts of those around you? You are called, every single day, to serve and to love the world with God’s restoration hope at your core. Then, to fuel this passion in others. Talk about this…. Live and teach mission… do the work of ministry…be the church…  multiply His work…. 

3- This will be written for a generation to come, and a people who have not yet been created will praise the Lord.  - Psalm 102.18  Will you incite wonder and fuel passion within a generation that may never see your face? Lay the foundation of passion for our God and for His mission. Consider the praise of generations and begin to live in such a way that you may just incite wonder and fuel passion generations from now.  Wow!

You are called, every single day, to demonstrate God’s love to a broken world.

We can all tend to forget, or move past things quickly and so easily. So as we celebrate the birth of Jesus through the Christmas season, we also should be reminding ourselves of the death and resurrection of Christ. Communion is not something we do only in remembrance as we look back. Communion is something that helps to unify us, focus us, and is a constant reminder of the Gospel we so desperately need.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

1) Pause and reflect on this past year. What is something that you learned about yourself? What did you learn about God? What did God want you to learn from the events of this past year? As you reflect on this be sure to grab a journal or note pad and write down some of these things

2) Why is unity among the body of Christ so important? How does communion bring us together? 

3) What about reflection is difficult? But why is important? As you reflect on Christ and your life is there anything significant you would be willing to share?

4) When thinking about the Gospel what excites you the most? What are you most thankful for? Take a moment to thank God for this gift! 

5) As we enter into a new year consider creating a new family rhythm of doing communion together… this could be at a meal weekly, or once a month. Consider the joy of reflecting on the gospel together as a family.

Isaiah 9:6 is one of the most used passages of scripture especially during the advent season. As we look at the time and context this was written, we will see a hope filled prophecy in the midst of a societal upheaval and captivity. But the one who is coming, brings a new, unimaginable Kingdom. And when we discover more of this King, we discover more of who we are: sons and daughters of God.

There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace and my happiness depend: To discover myself in discovering God. If I find Him, I will find myself and if I find my true self, I will find Him. — Thomas Merton

Isaiah 9:6

A Godly friend is a gift at all times. One such friend sent these truths as a Christmas blessing. Spend some time reading these verses and allowing them to read into your soul.  Worship in response to the truths of who Jesus is and what He has done for you.  

Psalms 46:1
Zephaniah 3:17
Lamentations 3:22-24
Jeremiah 31:3
Matthew 11:28
Romans 5:6-8
Isaiah 43:1-3
1 John 3:1

Write down as many truths as you can that bring restoration and hope to your soul.  What do you discover about yourself?  About God? Who needs to hear what you are discovering as encouragement in their journey.  Be ready to speak life to them as you live and move this week.   Merry Christmas!