Week 4 – Trail Head 4: Topography (get a lay of the land)

Have you ever thought about how you can supercharge your faith and increase your potential as a follower of Jesus? We're talking about the 4G Steps to Following Jesus: God, Groups, Growing, and Going. Want to learn more? Tune in and discover how you can step into the 4G's and experience a transformed faith journey. ?? #FaithFuel  IT'S EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). ------------- Trail Head 4 - Topography (get a lay of the land) Understanding your part to play in the story of God Trail 7:  How do I live for God (God, Groups, Growing, Going Steps) OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Did you guys know I used to be in a moped gang?  We were called the Moped Mafia, we used to get together and really slowly ride and block traffic.  A few years I decided to soup up my “hog”.  It was sweet chrome rims, leather seats, and a smooth ride and a mean 35cc’s under the “hood”.   Here was the problem with my moped.  It would only go 35 mph and I needed more speed, I needed it to go faster.  So I took the carburetor apart and drilled holes in air intake.  I put a better muffler on it, and up-jetted it, meaning I allowed more fuel to pass into the carburetor, which created a bigger explosion which made my moped cook! I supercharged that boy, I dumped fuel into to help it go faster Today, I want to dump fuel into your spiritual life to help you go faster in your faith.   How can you supercharge your faith and increase your potential?  To become all you were created to be in Christ? As I reflected on my experience, I found that there were really 4 essential steps that I have taken and continue to take that have supercharged my faith and increased my potential as a follower of Jesus. We call them The 4G Steps to Following Jesus b These steps are not “one and done” - these are Kaizen - they are steps you engage in daily to constantly improve your relationship with Jesus The God Step weekly worship daily devotion Intentional rhythm to help you set your mind on things above James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. ILLUSTRATION: Imagine, you have a friend come to you for advice and they say, “I’m thinking of giving up on my marriage, I’ve tried everything and nothing is working, I want it to work out, but I can’t see a way…” out of concern, you start asking them questions, “how long has this been going on?” “have you tried to get any help?”  You really dig in and try to see what you can do to help them.  Then you ask the question, “Well, how much time do you spend together?”  and your friend says, “Oh, I don’t spend any time with them… After we got married, I decided it would be better for me to stay at my own place.  She wants to text and spend time together, but I just don’t know that I have time for that." James says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”  b Lots of people struggle in their relationship with God and that’s because they don’t treat it as a relationship - they treat it as a transaction. b “I didn’t want to go to hell, so I did what I had to do to get out of that.” b The God step is about you intentionally choosing to do things that put you in relationship with Jesus. ILLUSTRATION: let me tell you how this personally looks for me.  I get up in the mornings, go and work out.  I will listen to podcasts about faith - not issues, but people who push me to go deeper with Jesus.  I come home, I grab my bible and I spend about 30 min. I pray and ask God to speak to me as I read.  I read from the NT, the OT, and a Proverb every day.  I take my kids to school, on our way, we pray for their day - each of them prays and then I pray over them.  We talk about what they are learning about God - sometimes we just talk about normal life stuff.  It’s not me trying to force God into a conversation - it’s that God is part of normal life.  I listen to worship music.  I watch the things I put into my heart - when I watch tv - I use Vidangel a lot to cut out cussing, sex, nudity, etc.  I try and stay present with Jesus during the day - if I’m working from a Starbucks, I ask Jesus what he wants to do in people's lives and I pray for them.  At night, we used to gather and pray as a family.  with bedtimes shifting, we don’t do that as much. What about you?  What does your rhythm to be intentional about including God in your day look like? I’ll bet you have a rhythm for eating I’ll bet you have a rhythm for working out or a rhythm for going to the bathroom, getting to work, shopping, paying bills, why wouldn’t you create a rhythm for the God step? The Groups Step Actively engaging in Godly relationships Small groups Bible Studies Friendships that are faith-oriented The very first thing the first Christians did was to gather together and spend time in faith friendships.   b Americans are more isolated than ever before. This is why as a church we have Connect Groups.  Because we know that apart from your personal devotion to God, the most important determinant for your success as a follower of Jesus is the people you surround yourself with. Everyone needs to have a group of Christians they are connected to. The Growing Step Jesus loves you as you are, but loves you enough not to leave you that way Are you learning?  Growing?  Diving deeper?  Read books, listen to podcasts, study the word of God The apostle Paul said this: Philippians 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. If Paul thought there was still more to learn, grow in, and deepen himself in, what makes you think you’ve come far enough? b The Going Step Looking for God opportunities (how will God use me today?) Using your time, talent, and treasure for the Kingdom and to bring glory to God ILLUSTRATION: We live in a  world where NO ONE wants to do anything for ourselves.  If I can outsource it, it will be better.  I want to show up at the movies and not have to make my own popcorn, right?  No one wants to have to do that.   This is capitalism at its best.  We have people who serve us and take care of us and we are willing to pay for it.  Can I tell you a secret? The church (the people who make up the body of Christ) was never meant to be a “come and serve me” entity. b The church was ALWAYS designed to be a go-and-give entity. b We are not the movie theater, we are the rescue crew after the Titanic. b We are all hands on deck.  All making a difference.  All willing to “make the popcorn” Can I ask you a question?   What is the body of Christ missing out on because you’ve been coming to be served rather than finding out how you can serve? b And… what are you missing out on by not serving, by not “going”? The going step is all about how you can make a difference! CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: A few years ago, I was at one of my son's basketball games and watching the different plays the coach was calling.  Without thinking I said, “Huh, there’s strategy to basketball…  who knew…”  Lol.  I’m a dork.  Because I’m not a sports guy, I’d never slowed down to look at how a team does well at basketball.  Maybe today, you’re looking at faith and going, “Huh, I never knew there was a strategy to being successful in your faith!”   You don’t have to wait another minute.  the beautiful part of all this is that God is the most gracious of all and even though we thought we could have a transaction with Him - He STILL wants a relationship with you…  Turn to Him today, it’s not too late to start stepping into the 4g's