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A NEW WAVE OF IDENTITY AND VISIONAn encounter with God radically alters your vision.
PRAYER God, open our hearts and minds to how you want to guide us on this journey. Give us a passion for your vision for our lives. Amen. SCRIPTURE Read Acts 9:1-22 and Galatians 1:11-24 What really stands out to you from these passages? What can we learn from Paul’s experience? How does the story of Paul’s transformation—which resulted from a vision given to him by Christ—shape the way we might respond to the vision God gives us? JOURNEY The New Testament character who did the most to spread the Gospel message (other than Jesus) was Paul, formally named “Saul.” He was a Pharisee—a type of Jew who promoted the strict adherence to God's law—and one who was ravaging the church by persecuting the early Christians. So what changed in Paul? Paul had an encounter with the risen Christ, which dramatically altered his vision. No longer did he see life through his own eyes—he had been given a new vision. He had a new outlook on life. He had a new mission. Paul's life was never the same again following this new vision that had been given to him. The vision given to all of us is to further God's Kingdom in our sphere of influence by reaching others for Christ. At times, this vision can feel daunting. Yet we are not alone in following this vision. It began 2,000 years ago with the early church, and it now continues with us today. And the truth is that it's going to take all of us to carry out this vision. As we “encounter” Christ in our own lives, our vision, direction, and purpose change. Instead of living for our own personal goals and ourselves, we now live for Christ and his desires for us. REFLECTION AND APPLICATION Describe a time in life when you had a clear vision (direction or goal). How did having this vision change your life? Is there a time when you did not have a clear vision? How was your life impacted? What was that experience? How has knowing Christ changed your life’s “vision”? Take a look at your notes from this weekend’s message (New Wave of Vision), as well as your notes in the Prayer Journal to help you as you answer the following questions: How am I challenged by what I heard? How will I apply what I have learned? Take a few minutes as a group to flip through the Journey Guide. How will you use this guide in the coming weeks, both personally and as a group? PRAYER God, please give us a clear sense of your vision and purpose, both as individuals and as a church. Encourage and equip us to follow wherever you lead us. Each of us commits to pray for one person who is far from you during this time. Let us notice how you would work through us to reach them. Amen. MEMORY VERSE |
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Luke 12:31
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
