November 12, 2023 (WEEK 52 🎉🥳🎈 OF CHURCH FORMATION)
LORD’S DAY WORSHIP
Today, enjoy a deep relationship with God. That is how we rest.
Without it, you are just practicing religion, which Jesus came to denounce.
Praise
Worthy of It All
Worthy of It All
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
I Offer My Life
O Praise The Name
O Praise The Name
O Praise The Name
O Praise The Name
O Praise The Name
O Praise The Name
O Praise The Name
Every Step
I can sing with my whole heart,�I have all I need
In Jesus, my Savior,�my joy is complete
Every Step
Onward to glory�yet here I will wait
I will trust in Christ�Every step I take
Every Step
I am sure of your promise�To guide me each day
Though some may oppose me,�I won’t be ashamed
Every Step
Whatever I face�Lord, it won’t be in vain
I will trust in Christ�Every step I take
Every Step
For all of my days�I will live for your glory�Running with courage and faith
The prize of my journey,�the joy of salvation�To meet my King face to face
Every Step
So I’m looking to Jesus,�perfector of faith
My heart set on heaven�Where treasure awaits
Every Step
I’ll run with endurance�To finish the race
I will trust in Christ�Every step I take
Every Step
For all of my days�I will live for your glory�Running with courage and faith
The prize of my journey,�the joy of salvation�To meet my King face to face
Every Step
I will, I will rejoice.�Whatever comes my way�God, you’re faithful to save
I will, I will rejoice.�I know that God is with me always
Every Step
For all of my days�I will live for your glory�Running with courage and faith
The prize of my journey,�the joy of salvation�To meet my King face to face
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.�For the Kingdom and all the power and glory belong to You forever and ever. Amen.
Greet One Another
Extended version
Seeking God as We Launch
Our Vision�Be a Disciple, and Make Disciples
Join us after encountering Jesus�ljl.church/membership
Our Ask to God, as We Launch�75 people (40 members)�$100,000 given to people in need
LJL Member Pledge
LJL Member pledge
Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and I will follow Him willingly as His disciple.
I will seek His Kingdom�trusting Him for all my needs, and
Make disciples of all nations�from where He has placed me
Announcements
Welcome to the Day of Rest (Mark 2:27)
X
MARCH X, 2024 - (SAT) 6PMish
Seeking a married couple and two singles to help
Chair Shuffle
Scripture Reading
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
Scripture Reading Principles
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
1"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
6Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
11I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
15I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
17This is my command: Love each other.
Remaining Close
True relationship is defined by the endurance to stay through trials.�How true is your relationship with God and others?�
John 15:1-17
Remember His Love, and Receive
Communion
Remembering His Love for us
1Corinthians 11:23-33
Body of Christ
Unites us
We are the same
Blood of Jesus
Forgives us
Declares us Holy
Examine yourself
and receive
Are you changing?
Is your heart softer, ready to yield to God and others?
Are you able to rest in Jesus?
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
1"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
October 30, 2022. Pre-week -2.
In, but Not of
Our lives on earth is to be “in” the world, though we recognize we are not “of” it.
P: Christians are no longer influential.
P: Christians no longer take risks for God.
A true Christian has deep relationships with a few, as a result reaches many over time
November 3, 2022 - Pre week -1
Agree with One Another
Our Christian living occurs outside the church, in the world. The Lord’s Day is for our rest.
Amen to God when He gives direction.
Amen to the best for one another.
Deep, dependable relationships!
November 20, 2022 - Week 1
To Whom Are You Called to Minister?
Target Age: 35 +/- 15. Outliers are ok!
Core goal: Relationships (with God and others)
Vision: Love God and others deeply.
You will make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
People around us, then the world – how?
Love few people deeply. That’s what Jesus did.
Be “pastors” over your group, meet often
Weeks 2-5
Week 2 - Tolerate One Another out of Love
Week 3 - How Jesus Grew His Church� Wilderness -> Be filled with the Holy Spirit
Week 4 - Importance of Eating Together
How God relates with us: No Agenda
Week 5 - Victory in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty - How you interpret the moment can make the difference
Seeking God as We Launch
Our Vision�Be a Disciple, and Make Disciples
Join us after encountering Jesus�ljl.church/membership
Our Ask to God, as We Launch�75 people (40 members)�$100,000 given to people in need
Weeks 6-10
Week 6 (Christmas!) - Impossible Happens
Week 7 (New Year!) - Be a Disciple, and Make Disciples.
Week 8 - Love, Because You Are Now Forgiven
Week 9 - Who has Jesus - Reaching the Bobs with Love and Power - pray, listen, intercede
Week 10 - You Feed Them
Weeks 11-18
Week 11 - Investment 101
Week 12 - The Journey of Knowing God
Week 13 - You Don’t Get It - He’s after you!
Week 14 - Change Me
Week 15 - Strength to Overcome
Week 16 - How can we grow
Week 17 - Ask God
Week 18 - Can We See as God Does
Present Day - more frustrated, in fear, lonely, depressed than ever!
Don’t we need Jesus more?
Feb 2023: https://reachrightstudios.com/podcast/2023-church-attendance-news/
May 2023: https://sowhatfaith.com/2023/05/12/end-of-presbyterianism-farewell-pcusa/
Church Attendance in Decline
“Churchgoers are twice as likely as the average American to be 65 and older.”
“Among mainline Protestants, 42% of churches are at least half 65 and older.”
Nov 2021: https://research.lifeway.com/2021/11/01/americas-pastors-and-churchgoers-are-getting-older/
Age of Current Attendees
Present Day Church
Paid-staff. Corporate-like execution.
Mega church. Online church.
Compromised Gospel.
Competition with world’s entertainment.
Influenced by Culture
Hyper-individualism - I’m #1
No center. No truth. No responsibility.
Results of Broken Families
“Absence [of Fathers] leaves behind and the tragic outcomes, including vastly higher rates of incarceration for boys and drastically higher teenage pregnancy rates for girls.”
“It turns out that 80 percent of everybody in the pews on Sunday morning grew up in a home with continuously married biological parents”
June 2023: https://www.newsweek.com/how-fatherlessness-drove-church-decline-how-churches-can-reverse-it-1807354
Counter cultural
Jesus calls us to love God and others.
Not once a week, but continually.
Weeks 19-25
Week 19 - Testimony + Finding Rest in Jesus
Week 20 - The Battle for Our Holiness
Week 21 - Jesus, A Very Present Help in Time of Trouble
Week 22 - Life that makes an Impact
Week 23 - Action-oriented Faith
Week 24 - Your Christian Leadership
Week 25 - Discipleship
Weeks 26-33
Week 26 - What God Can Do Through You
Week 27 - The Position of Rest
Week 28 - Change the World
Week 29 - Dying with Courage
Week 30 - Our Source of Strength: God’s Love
Week 31 - Persistent Faith
Week 32 - Gung Ho
Week 33 - Overcoming Sin
Weeks 34-41
Week 34 - Jesus After the Lost
Week 35 - Rest in Jesus
Week 36 - God Loves You
Week 37 - Genuine Helping Hands (Rich Aguirre)
Week 38 - How Are You?
Week 39 - Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
Week 40 - The Name of Jesus
Week 41 - Life of a Normal Christian
Weeks 42-48
Week 42 - Retreat
Week 43 - Community for Those Called by the King
Week 44 - Power for Those Called by the King
Week 45 - The King’s Love for Those He Called
Week 46 - How to Be a Man
Week 47 - Growing Up - Welcome failures. That’s how we grow.
Week 48 - Alone with God - Go after God. No middleman
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Galatians 5:22-23 (TPT)
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit (self-control). Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
11I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
15I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
John 15:1-17 (NLT)
17This is my command:�Love each other.
Weeks 49-52
Week 49 - Don’t You Care? - Less about you
Week 50 - Just One - Change the world. Yes, you!
Week 51 - Imitating Our Father, Giving and Forgiving - Do the impossible. It is possible w God
Week 52 - Remaining Close
Vision:�Be a disciple, and make disciples.�(that’s small groups!)
Our Focus:
Healthy relationships,�marriages, and families
Small Groups
Not once-a-week connection, but continual
Leaders are 2-3 people who love God
Foundational Structure (Our Highest Calling, chap 7)
Loving God
Loving Others
Our measure of success today is
Not Sunday Service Attendance
Small group depth and growth
Church where we are
Life transformation
Lord’s Day Worship
For believers
who recognize the importance of rest.
Members. Leaders.
Raise up True Men
Women would respect and want to be with
Who would lead, not just for themselves, but for the kingdom of God
Would change the world
Men: grab the calling early in life
Be driven by the mission/calling
Be respectable in the eyes of women
Love a woman, pursue, win her heart
Get married, start a family
Model Christ. Fulfill the call together.
Spend time in prayer on Lord’s Days.�Let’s ask God to:
Are you changing?
Is your heart softer, ready to yield to God and others?
Are you able to rest in Jesus?
Remaining Close
True relationship is defined by the endurance to stay through trials.�How true is your relationship with God and others?�
John 15:1-17
The challenge for this week
Do you agree God has called us to change the world?�Ask and trust God to do it!
Think about your calling. �Call someone out, and enjoy lunch.
Give an Offering and Prayer Requests
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” -2Corinthians 9:7
www.ljl.church/give
God is so good
God is so good
God is so good
God is so good
He’s so good to me
Give an Offering and Prayer Requests
www.ljl.church/give
Offering Prayer
Sending
Blessing as you go out to the world