In Jesus Name

What does someone who holds the position of police officer mean when he says, “Stop in the name of the law”? Does he think that he is the law? Does he think that a person should “stop” because he said so? No, of course not. What the officer means is that he represents the law, speaks for the law, and is operating in the authority of the law. He has been duly sworn in as someone who is trusted with acting on behalf of and consistent with the law of the land. When the officer commands someone to stop, he is engaged in the rightful use of an authority that has been granted to him. The officer is the voice of the law.

What do we mean when we end our prayer by saying “In the name of Jesus, Amen”? Does adding that phrase to the end of our prayer make it more powerful? Is a prayer that ends with those words more likely to be heard and answered? When I looked for an example of a prayer that ended that way from the New Testament, I couldn’t find one. However, I think we should pray in Jesus’ name.

The question is: What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?

I think praying in the name of Jesus is a lot like the police officer acting in the name of the law. It’s not about the words themselves. It’s about my position in Christ. It’s not that we have been asked to end all of our prayers with that phrase. Rather, we are to pray as one who has been given authority to do so. Our prayer is to be consistent with His will, His desires and His character. Maybe, instead of ending the prayer with, “In the name of Jesus, Amen,” a better idea could be to start off by saying “Father, I come before you, not in my own power, not in my own righteousness, not in my own capability. I come before you in the authority of Jesus, your Son, who gave me access by faith into this grace in which I now stand because of His blood. I come on the merits of Jesus, not on my own merits.”

I think this point is especially significant and thought provoking as I read through the New Testament and see all of the occasions when we are taught to do or act “in Jesus’ name.”

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
(John 14:14)

Leader Guide Week Of 10-28-07

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 28, 2007

Small Group Study Questions:

October 28, 2007
Can You Hear Me Now?
Getting In On God’s Family Plan

Getting Started:

1. How did you feel the first time you prayed out loud in a group?


Going Deeper:

2. In Luke 11:1-4, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. As you look at the prayer that Jesus shared with them, what stands out to you the most?

• The prayer includes a request for a single day’s provision.
• There is a recognition of personal weakness on the part of the person praying as he asks to be kept from temptation.
• The prayer is for the will of God to be done.
• What stands out to me the most is that the request to have my sins forgiven is connected to the way I forgive those who sin against me.

3. Different types of prayer have different names. For example, when we ask God to act on behalf of someone else, we call that intercessory prayer. What other kinds of prayer can you think of? Which of these do you focus on the most and why?

• Adoration – Thanking God for who He is.
• Thanksgiving – Thanking God for what He has done.
• Petition – Asking God to act on your behalf.
• Confession – Repenting of our sins before God.
• Listening – Taking time to be silent and wait upon the Lord.

4. Read Hebrews 6:11. What does it mean to earnestly seek God? How is this passage related to prayer? Read 1John 5:14-15.

5. What role does our obedience play in receiving answers to our prayers?

6. What does it mean to pray “In Jesus’ Name”?

7. Do you have difficulty praying? Why or why not? What advice would you give someone who finds it hard to pray?

8. Read Jesus’ prayer from John chapter 17 and answer the questions below:

• Jesus has several prayer requests in this passage. Can you list them?
• From His prayer, what obviously does He know about God?
• Who specifically, is Jesus praying for?
• What do you learn about Jesus, prayer, and God from this passage?
• How might knowing what Jesus prayed for help you know how to pray?

Putting it into practice:

1) Make a commitment to prayer and ask your group to provide encouragement and accountability.


Quote Of The Day
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.
--Abraham Lincoln

Leader Guide Week of October 21st.

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 21, 2007

Small Group Announcements (please announce these to your group).

Harvest Festival passports are on sale now. If purchased on Sunday mornings at the info table, you will save money versus buying them as you arrive at the event. Bring a candy donation and save even more! For information about the Harvest Festival contact Mike Wagner at KidzLife@newlifecommunitychurch.net.

Small Group Study Questions:

October 21, 2007
Can You Hear Me Now?
What To Do When God Seems Silent

Getting Started:

1. Read Psalm 18:6. Does God have ears?



Going Deeper:

2. Look around your small group. If you had to choose someone to sit in a room with, all alone, in total silence, who would you choose and why? What does this say about the relationship you have with that person? How is the quality of your relationship with God important when He seems silent?

• Silence can sometimes be an expression of trust.
• Silence can sometimes be an expression of comfort.

3. Discuss a time when God seemed silent in your life. How did you respond? As time has gone by, do you still respond in that way? Why or why not?


4. Read Zechariah 7:13. God said that when they called He would not listen. What made God decide not to listen to them? In the times when God has seemed silent in your life, do you think there may have been similar reasons?


5. Scripture clearly teaches that there are times when God is silent. (1Samuel 3:1, Amos 8:11 for example) Read Hebrews 13:5-6. How does this verse coexist with times where God seems silent?


6. Read Psalm 77:1-9. Have you ever felt this way? Read the rest of the Psalm. What happens to cause the turning point for the author of this Psalm? How might doing what Asaph did in this Psalm help you when God seems silent? Specifically, what would you remember (vs 11)?

• I think the turning point is the first time the word “mused” appears. To muse is to think or ponder. As he began to think about and ponder his questions he also began to remember things about God that helped him answer the questions he was asking. (has His love vanished, will He reject forever, will He never show favor, etc.)
• Asaph went from feelings to faith. His faith was more than feelings. His faith was informed and intellectual also. When he felt the weight of those questions rising up within him, he took captive his thoughts so that he could remember what he knew to be true of God.

7. Jeremiah 29:4-14 describes a time of discipline for God’s people and a time when God may seem silent (see verses 8-9). What is God’s advice to His people while they are going through this disciplinary action? How might this be a practical lesson in your own life when God seems silent?

• God seems to be suggesting that they live in the same way He would want them to live if they were in their own land.
• In the later verses He emphasizes seeking Him.

8. On Sunday we looked at four responses we can have when God seems silent. Which one is the hardest for you? If you added a fifth response, what would it be?

• Don’t read the wrong message into a “no message” situation.
• Don’t return the favor.
• Don’t lose hope.
• Don’t let what you don’t know rob you of what you do know.
• If I added a fifth response, it would be “remember." Remember who God is, what He has done in my life, the promises He has made.

Putting it into practice:

1) What are one or two practical ways you can respond when it seems like God is being silent? How can your small group help? Pray about that in your groups.



Quote Of The Day:
Silence is not absence.

When God Seems Silent

In Scripture, when God is silent, it is often punitive. In other words, God's silence is often a response to the rebellious and disobedient nature of His people.
But not always. As I read Scripture it occurrs to me that there are also times that God is silent as He brings His people through the trials of life. I've seen this most often in the Psalms.
Why do you think, when it seems like we need Him the most, God is silent? I think the answer to this question can also be found in the Psalms. As I read the Psalms, I notice that the authors tend to use God's silence as a time for personal reflection, petition, crying out and seeking Him. I also noticed the sheer determination on the part of the author to recognize God for who He is, praise Him for what He does, and remember Him for what He has done.
It often seems that when we need God most, even in His silence, that is the time He is not only helping us, but even carrying us.
The "Footprints In The Sand" story illustrates this. Of course the story is fictional, but I believe it describes a spiritual truth. In fact, I wonder if this fictional character sensed a certain silence on the part of God during his times of trial. I know I have. Here is the story. I added two Bible verses at the end that I think connect.


Footprints in the sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: One belonging to him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it.
"LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you would leave me."

The LORD replied,
"My precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

"The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."
Deuteronomy 1:30-31

"Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."
Psalm 77:19-20

On Mission Event

What makes Harvest Festival an "On Mission" event?

The Harvest Festival is one of only two events that our church calls “All-Church” events. (The other is the Easter picnic) Because it is an all-church event, we try to create an outreach/inviting component that encourages others in our community to attend. One thing that is different about this year’s Harvest Festival is the intentional nature of this outreach.

Here’s what’s different:

• Intentional Gospel Presentation

This year we have a station where children can come and enjoy a story about a pumpkin! The pumpkin is used as an object lesson to describe how Jesus can come into our “heart”, clean out the slimy gunk and make us clean. The candle in the pumpkin illustrates how His light shines through us.

• Bible Tracts

In addition to candy and small toy prizes at the game stations, we will also be handing out Gospel tracts. These small pamphlets are short, easy to understand, and encourage parents and children to talk about what it says.

• Bible Buddies

This year some of the prizes will consist of trading cards that have Bible buddies from the current Avalanche Ranch Sunday morning KidzLife curriculum. These cards have a picture of the Bible buddy on the card with a Bible verse on the back.

• Information Gathering

This year, when people get photos taken we will be asking them to fill out a form with their address on it so that we can send the photo to them. This will allow us to include an invitation to our church and thank them for coming to the Harvest Festival.

• Gift Basket Raffle

This year we will be raffling gift baskets. In addition to including coffee, gift cards, and other trinkets, we will also be placing Bibles, Purpose Driven Life books and invitations to and information about our church.

• Over 20 people have already signed up to help with some part of this event. However, that’s less than half of what it will take to make this event great. Please pray for the Harvest Festival, the people that have volunteered, and the invitations and flyers that have gone out to the community and consider how you can play a role in making the Harvest a blessing to our members, our kidz, and to those who may hear about Jesus for the first time.

Here are two questions for you as leaders:

• What might make this event even more On Mission?

• What part will you have in making this event more On Mission?

Click "comments" on this blog post and share your ideas with the rest of us!

God At Work

Hi Leaders,

I traveled to Mexico last Saturday with our Mexico outreach team and wanted to tell you about someone I met there.
In the photo, you probably recognize Dave Bourbinay and his son, Jonah. Between them is a young girl named Lupita. Here is her story:


Lupita was found going from truck stop to truck stop in Baja California when she was 7 years old. She was brought to the Casa Hogar orphanage by the authorities. This is the orphanage that we help support as a church.

Devon and Cindy Dickinson, former members of New Life Community Church, began to work with Casa Hogar in 1998; around the same time Lupita arrived there. Devon had a friend who was in medical school at the time and thought it would be a great idea to bring him down to Mexico to perform some minor health check ups. When he got to Lupita, he noticed she had a heart "murmur" of sorts. He believed it to be unique enough that it warranted further investigation. Mexican physicians confirmed that Lupita had a hole in her heart.

Lupita, being extremely young, said that she remembered having surgery at an earlier age, but couldn't provide any more information than that. Devon and his friend were able to get travel papers for Lupita to be seen by a heart specialist at Loma Linda University.
Her condition was so serious that the doctor said he couldn't explain why she was still living and breathing. The good news was that Lupita's serious condition was operable. The bad news was that, even with Loma Linda's kindness and generosity, the surgery would still cost around $50,000.

A group of concerned members from our church sprang into action and started to "shop" heart surgery rates. God provided.
The pediatric heart specialist team at Cedars Sinai was able to provide the surgery for $20,000. The funds were raised and Lupita had the surgery.

As a testament to the toughness of this young girl, she had open-heart surgery on a Wednesday and was released on a Sunday evening .........that's one tough 12 year old!

During the next year and a half, Lupita stayed with different NLCC families while commuting back and forth from the orphanage in Mexico so she could see her doctors for follow up.

Lupita just celebrated her Quincenerra Fiesta for a Mexican girl's 16th birthday. She has a strong faith in our Lord and has personal, first hand experience of His grace and healing. She has made strong ties to friends on both sides of the border.

God truly provided “New Life” to this young girl. Lupita's story is awesome and inspirational, but not rare. Each one of the 90+ children and adolescents at the orphanage have unique and amazing stories to share.

I would like to encourage you all to share in this ministry. I know that, for me personally, it was a blessing to be able to travel there and see what God is doing through our church and others like us.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27

Leader Guide week of October 14th.

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 14, 2007

Small Group Announcements (please announce these to your group).



Small Group Study Questions:

October 14, 2007
Can You Hear Me Now?
Getting Started:

1. What cell phone company do you use? Do you get good coverage or not?

2. Can you think of a time that God used circumstances (e.g. open doors, or closed doors, etc) to guide you or teach you?

Going Deeper:

3. In the Bible, what are some of the different ways that God speaks?

• Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
• Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
• Psalm 89:19 Once you spoke in a vision,
• Psalm 99:7
• Isaiah 20:2
• Hebrews 1:1-2

4. Which of those do you most depend on, and why?


5. Hypothetically, if a Christian wanted to marry a non-Christian, should the Christian pray about it? Why or why not? What would be the best way for a person to “hear” God’s voice regarding such a question?

• Most Christians would agree on the clear teaching of scripture that believers should not marry unbelievers.
• Is it possible that God would direct a Christian to violate His own clear teaching in Scripture? Would God make a special exception for a person who was sincerely desiring to commit a biblically sinful act for a really good reason?
• If these questions sound a bit silly, they should! God will never contradict Himself or His Word.
• God uses the sinful acts of people to accomplish His will. He does not cause the sinful acts of people to accomplish His will.
• Fortunately, we have God’s answers to many questions in writing. We call it the Bible. Prayer is vital, important, and Biblical, but it is no substitute for Bible study.

6. In Numbers 22 God used circumstances (an uncooperative donkey) to get Balaam’s attention. Can you think of stories in the Bible where God used events to direct someone or get their attention?


7. Is it possible to read too much into life’s events? For example, if I stubbed my toe in the shower today, does that mean God was trying to teach me something through that circumstance? What would the danger be in “over-spiritualizing” every event or circumstance in a person’s life? How do you find the right balance?


8. Read Numbers 22:5-20. In verse 12 God said, “Do not go with them” Why do you think Balaam went a second time to God to ask permission for something he already knew the answer for? Read Numbers 22:15-17.


9. In verse 20 God tells Balaam to “go with them”. Why do you think God changed His mind? Is this an example of God contradicting Himself?

• We should remember what the purpose of the journey was. Balak wanted Balaam to speak a curse against the Israelites. In verses 12 and 35 God tells Balaam to speak only what He tells him to speak.
• The journey with the donkey and the conversation that takes place along the road could be a teaching that when God opposes something, the proper response is to turn away as the donkey did. God seems to be telling Balaam that even his donkey knows this truth. God’s anger seems to be directed toward Balaam’s disobedience to the answer that God gave the first time.

10. Read verse 22. What do you think it was that God was “very angry” about, so much so that He was ready to kill Balaam?


Putting it into practice:

1) In light of the different ways that God speaks, what is one action you can take to “increase coverage”?

2) Specifically, what can you do to be more receptive to when God might be speaking to you through the events of life?





Quote Of The Day
Never confuse the will of the majority with the will of God.
--Charles Colson





My Comments (for small group leaders and co-leaders)

Don’t forget to check out the small group leader blog at newlifegroups.blogspot.com
Feel free to offer comments and suggestions by clicking the comments on the blog post.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Leader Guide week of October 7th

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 7, 2007

Small Group Announcements (please announce these to your group).

Here is an easy way to get started serving in a behind the scenes way. We need someone who is willing to come to the church and pick up the bulletins, then take them home and fold them in half. Please let Laurie know if you can help by calling 736-5433 or email her at Laurie@newlifecommunitychurch.net

Small Group Study Questions:

October 7, 2007
Can You Hear Me Now?
Getting Started:

1. Have you ever felt that you “heard” God? Describe what that was like.

Going Deeper:

2. God first began speaking audibly to Samuel in chapter 3, verse 4. What would you say Samuel’s relationship with God was like before this happened?

3. Verse 7 makes an interesting comment, that Samuel “did not yet know the Lord” What do you think is meant by that? What does it mean to “know the Lord”? What does it mean for us today to know to the Lord?

4. Read the rest of verse 7. What is the relationship between knowing the Lord and having the word of the Lord revealed to you? What “word of the LORD” is this verse speaking of? The Bible? Prophecy? A general knowledge of God? Do we need the word of God revealed to us?

• 1Corinthians 1:18
• 1Corinthians 2:14
• John 6:44
• Anyone who can read a book can read the Bible. However, it is the Sprit that causes the message of the cross to have salvific impact on the reader/hearer.

5. In reading verses 4-8, you see Samuel go through three round trips to Eli. Why do you think God allowed Samuel to go through a learning process. Why didn’t God just stop Samuel the first time He ran to Eli, and let Samuel know that is was God speaking to him?

6. Read 1Samuel 3:10-18. How did Samuel feel after hearing from God? How did he act on that feeling? Have you ever felt afraid to act on something God “told” you?

7. Learning is often an intentional act. What are some steps you could take to learn to “hear” God more/better? What points from the Sunday message were most relevant for you regarding this question?

• Check out the blog for a few thoughts I have on this subject. Newlifegroups.blogspot.com

8. How could a person know whether a thought, feeling, voice, teaching, prompting, etc. is from God? Read Acts 17:11 and 2Timothy 2:15. How do these verses help you to answer this question?

9. What would you say the difference is between hearing and listening? How is this related to our study?


Putting it into practice:

1) If you find it hard to “hear” God, pray about that in your group.
2) Commit to one action that you think will best help you to “hear” from God.


Quote Of The Day
The first step to wisdom is silence; the second is listening.


My Comments (for small group leaders and co-leaders)

Don’t forget to check out the small group leader blog at newlifegroups.blogspot.com
Feel free to offer comments and suggestions by clicking the comments on the blog post.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Thoughts on Hearing from God

Our motives for wanting to hear directly from God may offer a clue as to why we have difficulty hearing Him. Do we want a direct word because we are unwilling to stop and read the Scriptures for guidance? Sadly, this is often true. Will we not seek wise counsel from others? Would hearing directly from God make us feel important or spiritual?
According to James 4:3, motives are important when making requests of God.

Here’s a good question: Are we obeying what we have already heard from God? Imagine your son or spouse asking you, "What do you want me to do today?" You reply, "Mow the lawn." They walk away, thrilled that you answered them, but they do not mow the lawn. This scenario repeats day in and day out. Would you bother giving them additional directions to plant a flowerbed when the lawn is knee-deep and still growing?

Bible study is a great place to begin listening for God's voice. During your Bible study time, pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth as you read. Don’t be afraid to mull over a passage of Scripture over and over. Don’t be in a hurry to move on. This may sound weird but I think we sometimes forget that we need to use our eyes to listen to God. Much of what God wants to say to us He has said. It's in the pages of Scripture.

Regular reading of the Bible enables us to better understand how God operates and what He expects of us. This familiarity with Him and His principles will increase our ability to "hear" Him and to discern if something is "of Him". Always compare what you believe may be a word from God with Scripture, for God will not contradict Himself.

Hearing God requires that we go about our days actively listening for His voice. Too often we send up a prayer requesting God to speak to us about a given situation and when He does, we don’t even notice. We were too busy, going too fast, listening to and thinking about too many other things.

We want God's voice to break through our busy, high speed, high tech lives but God's voice is often still and small.

Slow down, breathe a little, clear your mind. Find a place where you can be still and know that He is God.

Study Habits Part II

As promised, here are a few of my thoughts regarding my previous blog post about study habits and our small group model.

Our small group model makes Mike Hannah a better teacher. If small group members are focused on the Sunday messages, taking notes and getting prepared to discuss what they’re learning, this would create a better learning outcome for that person. Because you know you’re going to discuss it later, you may be motivated to take better notes.

Our small group model invites new members to small groups. New people might not know what to expect from a small group. What are the questions like? Are they hard? Are they easy? Do I have to be a seminary graduate? Every Sunday they see the questions and therefore know what to expect when they show up at small group.

Our model allows someone who knows nothing about the Bible to be able to show up at a small group and have something to contribute. Often, the Sunday morning message is the only prep a small group member gets before he shows up at the group.

Our model encourages people who miss a Sunday to find the CD or podcast and listen to the message. No one needs to come to their group completely unprepared, even if they missed the Sunday service.

Our model consistently reinforces the importance of small groups at our church. Every Sunday, when people look at the message outline, they are immediately reminded that small groups are getting together to dig deeper because the small group questions are on the back of that outline.

Small Group Study Habits

The U.S. Military asked Harvard a question: “How can we maximize the learning outcome for our people when they are sent to seminars and classes?”
Harvard took up the challenge and launched a study to try to answer that question. They found that there are three things that, when combined into one learning experience, maximize the learning outcome for participants.
Here they are:

1. Set high expectations.

• The study found that when participants went into the class expecting that they would get something out of it, they learned more. The attitude of the individual plays a major role.

2. Take good notes.

• Not just any note taking. Good note taking. The study found that when the participants focused on the content and intentionally made the effort to take good notes, the note taking enhanced the participant’s ability to understand and remember what was being taught.

3. Discuss what was learned.

• Someone once said, “The proof is in the pudding.” What happens when the participant has high expectations of the event, intentionally takes good notes and then has an opportunity to discuss what was learned? The discussion itself is the “proof” that the learning outcome was maximized. The participant was able to recall from memory and notes what the points of the teaching were, and was also able to re-communicate those points. The discussion also helped to reinforce the participant’s understanding and correct any misunderstandings there might have been.

What has this got to do with small groups?

You Tell Me!! Click comments and give me your input.

Stay tuned for my next blog post when I will share my thoughts on how this study relates to New Life Community Church’s small group model.

Head Start

If you're looking for a head start, we will be looking at 1Samuel 3:1-10 this Sunday.