MESSAGE GROUPS - 30th ANNIVERSARY WEEKENDMESSAGE OVERVIEW:

Today we celebrate 12Stone’s 30th Anniversary.

There is a tug-of-war in each of us between self and sent. We know that the sent life is the blessed life, but we always get drawn back to self. When we live all about “self” life becomes smaller and more empty. As we reflect on the past 30 years together as a church, today’s message reminds us that we should “Live better than living for self; we should live sent.“

ICE BREAKER

What is something that you will always remember where you were when it happened? (the JFK or MLK assassination, 9/11, or an event like your wedding day) Why do you think this event sticks out to you so clearly?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONSIn Acts, we read about how Paul was rescued, transformed, and sent. This is the pattern that God works in all of our lives for growth. In this next season for us as a church – the pattern of being rescued, transformed, and sent will be key for us as a church in this next season. But first – we need to take time to celebrate the last 30 years together. So as we are celebrating – we do three things:

The first thing we do when we celebrate:

1. Remember (We remember why we do this.)

Read Acts 17:1-3. Paul explained that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus was sent to save us. We are in need of rescue. The response we have to someone who needs rescue includes:

• Compassion• Urgency• Action

Read Joshua 4:23-24. One of the ways that we remember what God has done is through our name: 12Stone. In this story, twelve stones were placed in remembrance of God’s rescue. A milestone is an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.

• Do you have any marking milestones in your walk with God that you remember?

Read Colossians 1:13-14. Just as God rescued the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, God has rescued us from the bondage of sin. Hell is the consequence of sin, and God loves us so much that he sent His Son to save us from eternal separation from Him. As a result,Read John 17:18. We are called to live sent.

When we remember what God has done, then we realize that “We are here to join Jesus in rescuing those who are near to us but far from God.”

• When you remember what God has done for you, do you feel compassion for people who are far from God? What action have you taken? What action can you take to be a part of seeing people rescued by God?

2. Rejoice (Rescued people rejoice. We rejoice when God rescues.)

We watched a video of a sample of people at 12Stone whose lives have been changed through a relationship with Christ. Many shared their testimony of how God had rescued them.

• Will you share your testimony with the group, so that we can all rejoice together in how you were rescued by God?

3. Re-up (We remember & rejoice which causes us to re-up for what God is going to do next.)

God wants people who are rescued to be transformed. As people are transformed and begin serving others who are in need of rescue, then they can begin to live a transformed life where they can bless, train, and send others. If you stay on the side of the table where you are in need of rescue and are being served, you get stuck and start to drift away as you focus on self. The opposite of that is to live sent. This is where we move from SELF to SENT.

• Which side of the table are you on? No judgment – when we are seeking God or are new in our faith, we are supposed to be in the rescue phase. Maybe you feel like you’re not at the table yet, or you just sat down and don’t really know what you’re doing there. Some of us may feel like we’re halfway on the rescue side and part of the way over to the transformation side.

• Small group is a place where we can be honest about our faith, and we can help each other to navigate through transformation. How do you feel about moving across the table?

Three things we do in response to remembering, rejoicing, and re-upping:

Rescued people live transformed lives – they bless, train, and send. Because of the rescuing hand of Jesus, we pursue personal transformation, one life at a time. The upcoming series will talk about these, but let’s review them in the group to prepare our hearts and minds for what it means to be transformed.

1. Bless In Christ, we live in God’s grace. Therefore, we invite you into God’s blessing to bless others.

2. TrainIn Christ, we live up to God’s potential for us. Therefore, we encourage you to a life of intentional growth.

3. SendIn Christ, we live out God’s mission. Therefore, we challenge you to go into your world and serve.

• We picked up Live Sent stickers for our cars, and put our “dot” on the map. But are you ready to re-up to live sent? To live on map, on mission? What do you think this could look like for you in your family, neighborhood, or place of work?

WHAT'S NEXT

• Where does God have you on the map? Where’s your dot? That’s your mission. You are called to serve where you are. Every time you leave the house, you’re on a mission trip. We are called to live sent. Practice that this week.

• What is one thing you can begin to believe, think, or do this week to live sent?