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March 5, 2023                                                                                                 Follow Me  Week 2 

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” —Jesus 

 As Disciples or Apprentices of Jesus, Our Goal is to live and love in the Way that Jesus lived and loved. 

Both sin and busyness have the same exact effect… 

They cut your connection to God, 

to other people, your own soul. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matt 11:28-30 MSG 

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:41-42 

Hurry Sickness: A behavioral pattern characterized by continual rushing and anxiousness. 

Symptoms of Hurry Sickness: 

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Hurry kills the best version of you. 

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?  For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.  Matthew 16:26-27 

Discussion questions: 

Which activities help you feel truly rested? 

Which part of this message was most impactful for you and why? 

What three things matter most to you? Why did you choose these things, and how can you prioritize them? 

What will you do to walk slowly enough to experience Jesus fully and love people deeply? How will you know when you’re doing this well? 

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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February 26, 2023                                                                                                 Faith Full Week 8

There is a Better Way!

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” —Jesus

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

"The greatest enemy to the life you want may be the life you're living." Craig Groeschel

People of the Way:

Goal was to live and love the way

Jesus lived and loved.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres… When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew11:28-30

Dallas Willard –

“A disciple or apprentice, then, is simply someone who has decided to be with another person, under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become what that person is.”

Be with Jesus

Become like Jesus

Do what he would do if he were you

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 msg

Discussion questions:

Describe your ideal Day off.

On a scale of 1–10, how fulfilled are you right now? What

makes you say that?

Consider how Jesus lived. What stands out to you the most about His way of living?

What area in your life looks most different from Jesus’ life?

What’s one way you can start living more like Jesus in that area?

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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 February 19, 2023                                                                                                 Faith FullWeek 7 

The quality of your faithfulness is determined by your ability to act, think, and respond selflessly. 

“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.  Habakkuk 2:4 NLT 

How can I practically live a faithful life? 

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1.I will Add Value to People 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 

2.I will Multiply Resources 

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things...’   Matthew 25:21 

Pistos→Persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties 

So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’  “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! Matthew 25:25-26 

3.I will Obey God 

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” Acts 20:22 

Obedience is Our responsibility.  

Outcome is God’s responsibility. 

 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12 

Discussion questions: 

If you could choose a one-word goal to achieve in life. 

What one word would you choose? 

Why do you think faithfulness matters so much to God? 

Read Matthew 25:21. What are some smaller things you’ve been faithful with? What did you learn about God by being faithful with those things? 

Share a time when someone trusted you, added value to your life, or helped make you better. How could you help those around you by adding value to their lives? 

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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February 5, 2023                                                                                                 Faith FullWeek 6 

Discipline grows our Faith 

Ought to becomes want to 

Discipline facilitates progress 

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Pre-Decide 

Game Changing Pre-decisions 

1.       Daily Devotions

 
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”  Matthew 6:6. NIV



Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came. To hear him and to be healed of their sickness.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16



Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Mark 1:35–37







2.Percentage Giving



“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Matthew 6:31–33


But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness... and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 6:31–33



3.Corporate Worship



For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.



30-DAY CHALLENGE

First minutes of the day

First dollars of your income

First day of the week


 
Discussion questions:

Is there something you currently enjoy doing that began as a discipline? If so, what made the difference?


Growing up, were you encouraged to develop habits that could be described as private spiritual disciplines (prayer, meditation, devotions, giving, fasting)? Did these habits carry into adulthood?


Read Matthew 6:1–4 and Matthew 6:5–6. Jesus assumed his audience was in the habit of giving and praying. What about you? When it comes to giving and praying, do you trend reactive or proactive? Would you be willing to be proactive for the next 30 days?

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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January 15, 2023                                                                                                 Faith FullWeek 3

THIS TIME, IT’S PERSONAL

“Trust is the currency of a relationship.”

“When what we know about God intersects with what we do for God our faith grows!”

Matthew 14 – Mark 6 – Luke 9 – John 6

3 BRIDGES OF FAITH WE MUST CROSS

1. Uncomfortable Situations

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida… Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.  Mark 6:45, 47-48

2. Personal Ministry

As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.  But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.  Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”  

But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”  “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

“Bring them here,” he said.

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them.  Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. Matthew 14:19-21

What breaks your heart?

Where do I need to put my trust in God and take a step?

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“I’ll do what I can do and trust 

God to do what only He can do.”

3. Total Surrender

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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Faith FullWeek 2

Believe

We confuse Believing and Knowing.

Trust is the currency of relationship

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22, 25

We should be preparing for temptation

Temptation Preparation

1. Because the devil is coming for you.

 I wrote to you… so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:9a, 11 NLT

2.Because you aren’t as strong as you think.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!                  1 Corinthians 10:12

3 Ways we can prepare for temptation.

1. Move the Line

Preparing—putting distance between me and temptation.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:6

1. Do the Math

What if the worst-case scenario comes true?

 …You will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Num 32:23

1. Plan your Escape

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. Genesis 39:6-7

But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:12b

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.1 Cor 10:13 (keys beginning of verse)

Why would I resist a temptation in the future if I have the power to eliminate it today?

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved