Bad Boys of Easter | Week 1

Caiaphas [Chad Simpkins]

John 11:45-63

Matthew 26:64-66

Caiaphas' Fears:

1st Fear - Fear of losing everything

2nd Fear - Fear of Jesus

Next Steps:

1 - Time to Say 'No' to Some Things in Your Life

2 - Time to Say 'Yes' to Jesus

Saying Yes to God: Will Cost You Something

Saying Yes to God: Will Always Cost Your More

What Are You Willing to Surrender?

Rumble Strip | Week 4

Protection [Chad Simpkins]

MWD = Married While Distracted

1. Kids/Work/Finances

Exodus 20:3 - You must not have any other god but me.

Question 1: Are our kids, my work, our finances, becoming more important than our marriage? If so, why?

Question 2: What are the 2 things I can do this week to begin to make my marriage more important?

Next Step: Ask a longtime married couple.

2. Past Relationships

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Question 1: How are my past relationships affecting my present marriage?

Question 2: After reading Ephesians 4, what do I need to let go of, or work on, because of my past relationships that are hurting my marriage today?

Next Step: Go to Counseling

3. Expectations

Genesis 2:24 - This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife in such a way that the two become one person.

Matthew 20:21 - “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

Matthew 20:28 - “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:3-4 - Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Question 1: What are the expectations I have for my marriage right now?

Question 2: Where are my expectations causing problems within my marriage?

Next Step: Figure out 3 ways to serve your spouse this week.

4. Family of Origin

"Jesus may be in your heart, but Grandpa lives in your bones." -Pete Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader

Question 1: What negative things from my family of origin do I need to set aside?

Question 2: What can I do to separate myself from my family of origin so I can focus on my marriage?

Next Step: Write out your family genogram.

Joshua 24:14-15 - “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly… But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve… But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Rumble Strip | Week 3

Patience [Daniel Roach]

Patience Definition:

The capacity to accept or tolerate, delay trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Ability to be calm in the face of frustrations, obstacles, or suffering

Opportunities for Patience

Daily Hassles

Interpersonal Patience

Life Hardship

Patience Requires Cultivation

Photographer Eric Pickersgill - Removed

Patience Requires Different Values

Proverbs 16:32

“Alas, I have conquered other nations, but I have not been able to conquer myself!” - Peter the Great

Patience Requires Proper Purpose

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Patience Requires The Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

Rumble Strip | Week 2

Pursuit [Chad Simpkins]

Genesis 2:18-24

"Good intentions never change anything. They only become a deeper and deeper rut." -Joyce Meyer

ACTION #1 - When you think something good about your spouse, say it.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...

ACTION #2 - If you think about doing something special for your spouse, do it.

ACTION #3 - If you want something different in your marriage, start with yourself.

"Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

-Romans 12:2 [Message Bible]

Rumble Strip | Week 1

Priority [Chad Simpkins]

Matthew 22:34-40

#1 Relationship we have is with God

Exodus 20:4-5

#2 Relationship we have is with our neighbor/spouse.

BLESS your Spouse:

Be in Prayer

Listen

Eat

Serve

Share

BLESS | Week 6

SHARE Your Story [Chad Simpkins]

Genesis 12:3 - All the families on earth will be blessed through you.

B - Being in prayer, L - Listening, E - Eating, S- Serving, and finally S-Share Your Story

John 9:1-5

-Life Before Jesus

John 9:6-7

-When We Meet Jesus

John 9:8-11

-Our Life With Jesus

1 Peter 3:15 - Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

BLESS | Week 5

SERVE in Love [Daniel Roach]

John 13:1-17

The Argument: Who's the Greatest?

The Table: Triclinium

The Feet

The Problem

The Crown: John 13:2-5 & Philippians 2:3-8

The Apron: Mark 10:45

The Expectation: John 13:12-17

Help us Fill The Serving Gaps

Keys to Serving:

The Proximity

The Relationship

The Divine Appointment

“Lord Jesus, as it would please you bring me someone today whom I can serve.”

-Richard J. Foster in Celebration of Discipline

BLESS | Week 4

EAT Together [Chad Simpkins]

Genesis 12:3

Matthew 9:9-13

4 DON’TS: EXCUSES:

DON’T #1: Don’t want people in my house!

DON’T #2 - Don’t know what to say

DON’T #3 - Don’t have time

DON’T #4 - They Don’t think like me

Neighborhood Groups

Reserved Group

Meal Train

Step 1 - Go back to your HIT list

Step 2 - Invite them to eat

Step 3 - Listen

Luke 7:34

Matthew 26:26-29

BLESS | Week 3

LISTEN with Care [Chad Simpkins]

Genesis 12:3

"Being heard is as close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable."

-David Augsburger, Caring Enough To Hear and Be Heard

Luke 18:35-45

#1 - Listening is hard

#2 - Listening is active

James 1:19

#3 - Listening is about asking great questions

HISTORY

HEART

HABITS

HURTS

#4 - Listening means we might need to take actions

ASK QUESTIONS

LISTENING TO WHAT THEY SAY

REPEAT WHAT THEY SHARED

AFFIRM THEIR WORDS

DISCLOSE YOUR THOUGHTS

TAKE ACTIONS

B.L.E.S.S. | Week 2

[Chad Simpkins] Begin with Prayer

Genesis 12:3

Why do we want to BLESS others?

1 - We have been blessed

2 - People need to be blessed today

What is your prayer life like?

Luke 11:1

#1 - Jesus Prayed

Luke 11:1-4

#2 - There is purpose in prayer

Luke 11:5-10

#3 - There is power in your prayer

Luke 11:11-13

Are you praying for opportunities to bless other people?

1 - Make a HIT list

FRANC MODEL

Friends → Relatives → Acquaintances → Neighbors → Co-Workers / Church

2 - Find Your Rhythm

Mark 1:35

3 - Pray Over Your List

Luke 11:2-4

4 - Expect Divine Appointments

To bless others, we begin with prayer.

Romans 8:34-35