"...for through Him we both have our access in One Spirit to the Father. So, then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."

- The Apostle Paul, Ephesians 2:18-19 (NASB)

There is only one kingdom of God and it is within you...

Jesus, Luke 17:20-21

There is only one King; Jesus is Lord!

The Apostle Paul, Philippians 2:9-11

There is only one hope; the government will rest on the shoulders of the One King!

The Prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 9:6-7

How would you describe what it means for the kingdom of God to be present within you? In what ways does your citizenship in the kingdom differ from your citizenship in your country of origin?

Where is your hope, really? How do you know when your hope has been misplaced?

Have you experienced life differently when you place total trust in Christ? In what ways?

What do you think it means when Isaiah says, "...the government will rest on His shoulders and there will be no end to his kingdom?"

What do you do with any part of this that seems controversial to you? Why does it seem that way?

What might be your next steps towards realizing your true citizenship in God's kingdom?

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

- Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus

Immigrants are influenced by both push and pull factors. Push factors are those undesirable things that influence people to leave a certain place for another. Pull factors are the desirable things that draw people to a specific place.

One cannot really appreciate the goodness and beauty of good news until they have experienced the ugliness of the bad news!

The bad news is that the world lies under the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19; Ephesians 6:12; Ephesians 2:1-3

The good news is that God has an immigration plan that has come to us in the form of His Son, Jesus! Colossians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:4-10; Ephesians 1:14

Which part of the "Lady Liberty" illustration resonated the most within you? Why do you think it impacted you in the way it did?

What were the "push" and "pull" factors that moved you toward the kingdom of God?

When discussing the evil in the world, do you have any difficulty acknowledging the existence of dark principalities, powers, and forces as described in Ephesians 6:12? Why or why not?

Did you agree or disagree with the reality of the human condition as it was presented from Ephesians 2:1-3? In what ways do you differ from what was presented?

Describe your experience or lack of experience with being transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of light.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT)

When you:

Enter the Kingdom of God – be born again | Col 2:6a; John 3:3; Romans 10:9-10

Follow Jesus – live like he lived | Col 2:6b

Grow roots in him; build your life on him | Luke 6:46-49

Then you:

Deepen your faith – trust Jesus more.

Change your perspective – develop gratitude.

What is the worst advice you received as a child/teenager?

What are the things that a tree needs to be healthy? What are the things a Christ follower needs to be healthy?

Why does Paul describe our need to grow roots in Jesus as the first pursuit of our lives?

What changes do you need to make to your "growing environment" to become a healthy Christ-follower?

What kind of impact do you hope to make for the Kingdom of God?

"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and money both."

- Jesus - Matthew 6:24 (MSG)

"There is more to life than money but the way we manage our money says the most about our life."

- Phil Jeansonne

We are managers, not owners! | Psalm 24:1

We manage God's grace... | 1 Peter 4:10

We manage God's message... | 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Romans 10:13-15

We manage God's money... | Romans 15:24; 1 Timothy 5:17-18

What was the first big responsibility you remember being left in charge of? What was the first big responsibility in which you "dropped the ball"? What did you learn from that experience?

What is the big deal with and what difference does it make to consider ourselves managers instead of owners?

It seems like such a social taboo to speak about personal finances. In the church, this becomes a problem because it hinders our ability to disciple one another. Do you speak with others about spending and lifestyle issues?

Discuss this statement: Managing God's money is not just a financial add on; it is not just an appendix in the life of discipleship. Our resources of time, talent, and money fuel the engine that helps the church carry out God's mission.

In general, how committed are you to suppordng the work of God's mission through the work of the Vineyard Church of New Orleans?

"I never had any difficulty imagining what the American Dream would look like

if I pursued it with everything I had. It will require the same imagination to

experience the reality of the kingdom life!"

- Phil Jeansonne

Senior Pastor (meaning oldest) of VCNO

God's dream of a kingdom society on earth summons both my inner life and my entire being...it captures me and compels me to chase it!

Every positive thing in life is a gift from God.

Every gift/resource comes with a responsibility that it be used to pursue his dream.

This is a fundamental part of our becoming like Christ, being transformed to his image, and growing/living into it.

We were made for self-giving love. When we lose our lives of self-absorption we gain our lives of self-sacrifice and enter the joy of being fully human, like Christ!

What are some of the gifts that have been entrusted to you?

In what ways have you experienced self-giving love? Are you being poured out in the way God has called you to be poured out? If not, what stands in the way of you imaging the life of Christ?

This all sounds so counter-cultural to the American Dream we grew up

"I'm dizzy from the shopping mall I searched for joy, but I bought it all...

When autumn comes, it doesn't ask, it just walks in where it left you last...

Something's missing and I don't know how to fix it..."

- John Mayer

The symptoms of maxed out time are HURRY and WORRY.

Christ-followers focus on today's concerns and believe tomorrow is in the hands of the loving Father (Matt 6:25-34).

Christ-followers look for Kingdom opportunities today (Eph 5:15-16).

Say "no" to some good things to say "yes" to the best things.

In the last month, have you felt "maxed out" with your time? When was it and why did you feel maxed out?

Are you more prone to HURRY or WORRY? In what ways do they show up in your life?

Read Matthew 6:25-34 together. How does Jesus shift the way we view and use our time?

Who or what are the main priorities in your life? Does your calendar reflect your priorities?

What is one tangible step you can take this week to "redeem the time"?

"Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they will be won over to God's side and join in the celebration when he arrives."

- 1 Peter 2:12 (MSG)

People are watching Christ-followers for an excuse to reject the gospel and far too often we give them plenty of excuses!

We cannot afford to leave the text quoted above in the abstract. We must give some definition to the protocols of exemplary behavior.

The protocols of exemplary behavior are more about character than rules, more about caring than regulations, and more about thoughtfulness than requirements.

When it comes to family etiquette, it's the little things that count!

In your own experience, where has there been a disconnect between your "talk" and your "walk"?

In what ways, if any, was that disconnect noticed by others? In what ways did it impact others?

Why is it that character, caring, and thoughtfulness were placed above rules in today's talk? How might our character influence others when our behavior is less than exemplary?

In addition to the "little things" mentioned in the talk, what other practical examples could be added to the list?

If you had to describe your family in one word or image, what would it be and why?

Ephesians 2:11-22 (MSG)

Family is a Kingdom reality!

In the family of God, everyone has a place.

In the family of God, everyone gets to play.

The family of God is built on Christ.

If you had to describe your family in one word or image, what would it be and why?

In what ways is the family of God similar/different to your image of family? How have you experienced the family of God in your own life?

Read Ephesians 2:11-22. What are some cultural barriers the family of God overcomes then and today? What are some barriers the Church struggles to overcome?

What is your playground? How has God gifted and equipped you to serve in His family? What steps can you take this week toward finding your playground?

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you...let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification...that it may give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirt...but let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

- Ephesians 4:25-31 (selected verses)

Using your combined abilities of total recall, revisit the cases discussed. What did you think of the responses given by the "doctor"? What insight could you add that might be helpful to others?

What situations were not addressed that you would like to discuss? Try applying the truths we have discussed to those situations.

Honor your father and mother, that your days will be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. - Exodus 20:12 (NASB) / Ephesians 6:1-3 (NASB)

The first command concerning relationships and the only command with a promise

A kingdom perspective on an Old Testament commandment

Our ultimate allegiance is to God, our father

How to honor the position of father and mother

How to honor the reality of the relationship

There is a huge cultural gap between modern and ancient families. What changes in society have affected families for the better? For the worse?

What does it look like to forgive a parent? What does reconciliation with a parent look like? What is the difference/boundary between the two?

Would it ever be alright to sever a relationship with a parent? If so, how could that be honoring? Describe a situation in which it might be appropriate to sever the relationship.

How did your parent expect you to honor them? How did you honor them? How did they respond? How did you honor them in ways they did not expect?