Gateway's Mission

  1. Practicing being totally absorbed: How do we build our lives together around Jesus’ agenda?

    1. Two parts: What we lay down / deny, and what we take up / get

      1. Matt. 16:21-27

        1. 21-23 – What did Jesus lay down / deny? What did he take up / get?

        2. 24 – What were Jesus’ followers to lay down / deny? What were they to take up / get?

        3. 25-27 – What were Jesus’ followers to lay down / deny? What were they to take up / get?

      2. Luke 9:22-26

        1. 22-23 – What is the difference between Matt. 16:24 and Luke 9:23?

        2. 24-26 – What is the difference between Matt. 16:25-27 and Luke 9:24-26?

      3. Philippians – Live up to our calling as representatives of the Goodnews

        1. 1:20-21 – How does Paul’s view of his life compare with what Jesus said?

        2. What had he laid down? And what had he taken up / gained?

        3. 1:27-29 What was Paul telling them to do?

        4. How does this compare with our mission statement?

        5. What were they taking up / getting?

    2. Response to Jesus’ teaching: What do we lay down / deny?

      1. Use of our resources in ways which are less than Jesus-centered:

        1. Time

        2. material resources

        3. thought life

        4. relationships

        5. emotional strength

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  1.  

    1. Philippians – Four examples, Jesus, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Paul

      1. 2:3-4 – What were they to lay down / deny? What were they to take up / gain?

      2. 2:5-9 – What did Jesus lay down? And what did he gain?

      3. 2:19-22 - What did Timothy lay down / deny? What did he take up / gain?

      4. 2:25-27, 29-30 What did Epaphroditus lay down / deny? What did he take up / gain?

    2. How do we respond to this? What do we lay down / deny?

      1. Use of our resources in ways which are less than Jesus-centered:

        1. Time

        2. material resources

        3. thought life

        4. relationships

        5. emotional strength

      2. How do we evaluate our use of resources?

      3. What holds us back?

      4. How do we break free?

      5. How do we pray this through, work this through, talk this through, live this out, so we come out on the other side of fear, selfishness, anxiety, and guilt?

        1. Philippians 3:8, 10-11

          1. 3:13 – 4:1

          2. 4:10-19

    3. What do we take up / get?

      1. A new outlook: See our service to God as something we do all the time, everywhere

      2. The cross: Suffering & sacrifice

      3. Being close to Jesus and knowing him much better

      4. Credibility & being trusted, having influence

      5. New skills:

        1. Strategic thinking & planning

        2. Living the new life, developing a new model for life

        3. Knowing how to influence others in actions and words; knowing what to say, and went to talk or not

        4. Developing and growing our capacity

        5. Serving as families, extended families, small groups, and the church as a whole