The Forge

Radical Change-
Radical Trust-
Purpose of Suffering-
Anchor Verses: John 15:2 Isaiah 57:1 Hebrews 12:6-7 James 1:2 Ephesians 5:20
Tony's Take-Aways:
God is completely trustworthy
How we handle suffering is up to us
We can either shake our fists at God or we can approach Him with a heart of thankfulness.
Discussion Questions:
How have I suffered?
Did I trust God through it?
How can I change my mindset to trust God when I suffer?

First Responder qualifications
Jesus first responders (trained, dispatched, run to, assess)
A Mess
Grace (internal and external)

Why are WE the first responders.
The great commission
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus COMMISIONED us all as first responders
Your past uniquely qualifies you to reach a certain people group.
God gave you a gift.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness” 2 Peter 1:3
Your authenticity is the key to influencing those around you.

How can I be an everyday first responder?

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other” John 13:34-35 MSG
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Food for thought?
How can my mess become my message?
Where can I grow and lean into a gift or calling?
Jesus used the most broken and marginalized people to carry the message, can you relate with the everyday men He called to be apostles? Why?

A Jesus First Responder Refresher
Must be trained
Commissioned and dispatched
Run to not from
Assess, treat, and monitor
God can use ALL things for His glory
Joshua 2 - The Story of Rahab
The Canaanites worshiped many gods. They had shrines, temples, and idols across the land of Canaan, and their religious practices included things like ritual prostitution and child sacrifice. Rahab was part of that culture. Yet God chose to write her into His story


“But do not forget this one things, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

The discipleship pathway Is to reshape the misshapen
NOT bobblehead theologians
Incarnational (Jesus Is Lord) impact In our neighborhoods
Requires a reshape of self
HIGHLY relational
Our faith is more than about having a sound morality: sacrifice, commitment, repentance, community, exploration, formation, etc.
Stop overthinking It!
Yes. What's the question?
This may feel uncomfortable at times
Time to answer the call!
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.” Ephesians 6:12 AMP
Discussion Questions:
Christ used a prostitute In his lineage, what significance does this have in our own story?
In what areas is God stretching you?
Are you opening your home up for Church in Community? Why or why not? Implore one another to talk with Matt or Ben If anyone has any questions whatsoever about this.

Responding to Jesus encourages us to prepare, know, and use our gifts for His Kingdom
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11
Responding to Jesus is simple, but not always easy.
“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31
Responding to Jesus brings sacrifice and awareness of suffering, so count the cost and be ready.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-6
“For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:19-21

Discussion Questions:
What gifts do you have that you can steward well when responding to Jesus and his dispatch?
Because God first loved you, who can you identify to love more genuinely?
Has the cost of suffering or sacrifice kept you from saying yes when you are dispatched by God?

Psalm 18:1-3
I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies.
Psalm 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Proverbs 31:8-9
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
or the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What is God calling you to do within your chosen profession? If not working, where is God leading you or calling you to go?
What is holding you back from following the plan or the path God has chosen for you?
Do you have a trusted friend/mentor who you can talk with and who can pray for you?

A movement toward God or stagnant to self? Don’t confuse busy with productive.

We are a sent people
God is a SENDING God
When we answer the call to follow we become a SENT people
We are all CLERGY
We are all MISSIONARIES
Having NO PRIESTLY CASTE is an original idea with Jesus

Some theological perspectives:

Importance of the Trinity: Trinity proves the social nature of God and His desire to be in community. The Sending nature of God is evident in the Father sending the Son, and the Father and the Son sending the Spirit. This should help us understand the importance of how we are to live on mission.

Missio Dei: basic translation to “God at work”. A more in-depth understanding is that God is on mission (missio) everywhere and at all times. We join God in His mission, not by asking him to join ours.

+Incarnation: God showing up in a very specific way/place in humanity and showing himself.

=Witness: the expression of God’s mission and him (specifically) showing up in tangible ways fulfilling that mission

We are a sent people
God is a SENDING God
When we answer the call to follow we become a SENT people
We are all CLERGY
We are all MISSIONARIES
Having NO PRIESTLY CASTE is an original idea with Jesus

“Theology is not the private reserve of theologians. It is not a private affair for professors... Nor is it a private affair for pastors...Theology is a matter for the church. It does not get on well without professors and pastors. But its problem, the purity of the church's service, is put to the whole church. The term laity is one of the worst in the vocabulary of religion and ought to be banished from Christian conversation.” -Karl Barth


“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Matthew 28:17-20

Discipleship is an essential aspect of the church and an essential component of the co-mission with Christ.

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Do you hear that? Don’t miss out on your call.
Calling and vocation are synonymous
Both stem from the root word (VOCARE) meaning “to call”
Vocation is not a goal we pursue but a calling we hear

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” Ephesians 4:1

Three primary gift passages:
Two where the gift is external, to us:
1 Corinthians 12- “manifestation gifts”: Wisdom, knowledge, faith, powers, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, tongues

Romans 12- “praxis gifts”: prophecy, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading, mercy.

One where the people are the gift:
Ephesians 4 - “calling gifts”: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and
teacher
A Mega Church is not based on the size of its seating but rather on the amount of its seeding.

The Journey:
We all have a journey, a story, a testimony to tell.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 Proverbs 3:5-6
What is your testimony?
The Call:
We all have a purpose.
2 Timothy 9 Romans 8:28 Matthew 9:37
What is a Chaplain?
The Answer:
We all have the ability to respond.
10 commandments can be summed up in LOVE
Romans 13:9
LOVE
Mathew 5:43, Mathew 19:19, Mark 12:31, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8
Leviticus 19:18, Luke 10:27, Mark 12:33
What is a Probie?
1 Corinthians 8:1
The Busy Signal/Caller ID:
What is holding you back?
Exodus 6:12 Exodus 6:30 2 Timothy 1:7 Philippians 4:6
Questions:
Have you ever felt called or pulled to something? (Your testimony shaping you).
Have you felt the nudge to talk/help someone but didn't or did respond?
What is holding you back (preventing you from answering/serving)?

The First Responder
Defined as someone designated or trained to respond to an emergency

First Responders
Are trained specifically for their unique responding
Have been commissioned and assigned to a “station”
Immediately respond when dispatched
Run TO where most want to run FROM
Assess, Treat, and Monitor


The Jesus First Responder
Must be trained
( 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 2:2-3, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Proverbs 4:2, Proverbs 3:1, Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 2:6-8)
Are commissioned and dispatched
(Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 8:20-40)
Need to Run To not From
(Acts 8:26-40, Acts 9:10-20)
Assess, Treat, Monitor
(Luke 10:25-37)

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
The formative year
“To all my little Hulkamaniacs, don’t forget to train, say your prayers, take your vitamins and you will never go wrong.” -Hulk Hogan
Church, school, and sports…don’t draw attention to yourself(?).
Set goals, work hard, achieve…what went wrong?
The 20’s…and early 30’s
“I’m here to chew bubblegum and kick a**, and I’m all out of bubblegum.”
A second chance at “greatness”...but still not “great”
My friend Zack and the “ah-ha” moment
Older and more aware. What is my why?
My unprayed prayer and my why.
Romans 12:2
Colossians 3:1-4
1- Where have you come up short of goals you’ve set, and what is the reason for not achieving the goals?
2- Are there areas in your current journey where you and your Lord aren’t on the same page?
3- Where in your life had you had the unprayed prayer answered?