Message 1: An Army Based On Surrender

Serve Your City 2021

By Pastor Chris Brown, April 10, 2021

An Army Based On Surrender

Christianity behind locked doors:

John 20:19-31

Two questions we have to ask:

How was Jesus sent?

John 1:14, 17:18, Philippians 2:1-18, Matthew 28:19-20

He was sent to live .

He was sent to .

He was sent to and .

He was sent to show us .

What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus?

Romans 10:14-15, 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Matthew 5:13-16, 28:19-20

Hands: a willingness to and

Feet: a willingness to and

This is a in giving .

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Support Our Ministry

If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Weekly Digital Bulletin

The Digital Bulletin can be found at myncc.info

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Life Group Study Questions

For the week of April 11, 2021

QUICK REVIEW

Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or something that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?

MY STORY

  1. Can you think of a time when someone made a sacrifice to help you, serve you or meet a need you couldn’t meet on your own? If so, how did it feel and how did you respond?
  1. When it comes to following Jesus, what do you think most people would say is the cost?

Have you noticed any changes in your view of the cost over time? If so, explain.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. When Jesus came on the scene, He turned upside down what it meant to be great – service and sacrifice for others (Matthew 20:26-28). As the title of this week’s message says, the Church and its people are “an army based on surrender.” It’s no secret that something worth much costs much. But all too often, we think of a sacrifice as being a big decision we make once and then move on. In reality, we are called to sacrifice in many small ways every day. What do you find challenging about making the sacrifices found in the following verses?

Matthew 20:26-28 New International Version (NIV) 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 6:27-31, 36 New International Version (NIV) 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Colossians 3:23-25 New International Version (NIV) 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

John 13:1-17 New International Version (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 New International Version (NIV) 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Can you think of any examples in your life where you sensed God’s presence or blessing while making a sacrifice like those from the verses above?

  1. We are called to make both big and small sacrifices for Jesus. God helps us keep perspective in the midst of the sacrifices we make, and He promises to bless us as we obey Him. How do the following verses affirm and motivate you to know that the cost of following Jesus is well worth it?

Matthew 10:39 New International Version (NIV) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Mathew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV) 28 “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.”

2 Corinthians 4:14-17 New International Version (NIV) 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Hebrews 10:32-39 New International Version (NIV) 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Which two comments or concepts in the verses above are most motivating to you?

TAKING IT HOME

  1. Which point from this weekend’s message or Life Group study is most important for you to remember?
  1. SERVE YOUR CITY is about being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community by putting into action the service and sacrifice God has called us to. If you or your group would like to donate and/or sign up for a project, go to northcoastchurch.com and click on “Serve Your City.”

PRAYER REQUESTS

 ## TIPS ON GROUP PRAYER

Prayer is an important part of being in Life Group. Over the years we've found that group prayer goes better when we follow three simple guidelines.

WE PRAY FOR ONE TOPIC AT A TIME - Anyone in the group is free to introduce a prayer request either before prayer begins or during the prayer time. Once a topic is introduced, the group focuses on that request alone. Once it's covered, the group moves on to the next topic.

PRAY MORE THAN ONCE - Because the group is focusing on one topic at a time, each person is encouraged to pray several times during the prayer time for those topics they feel most led to pray about. No one is required to pray.

WE KEEP OUR PRAYERS SHORT AND SIMPLE - Group prayer goes better when members keep their prayers short and to the point. When someone prays for a long time, it's hard for the other members to stay focused and long prayers tend to intimidate those who are just learning to pray out loud in a group. No one is required to pray out loud.

PRAY FOR SERVE YOUR CITY

…for the many details needing to be finalized in these last two weeks

…that we will be effective in meeting needs in the community with the organizations we are working with

…for North Coast – that we may grow in our effectiveness in reaching our community for Jesus and be a place where people want to grow and bring their friends

…for yourself – that you may know how to serve others with the attitude of Christ and have opportunities to tell others about Him