June 21st 2009, Vince Antonucci

Message by Vince Antonucci
June 21, 2009
Second Helpings by Paul Wu


Warm-Up
Who were you back in high school? Were you prom queen, or a little leaning towards the not prom queen side. Hey have fun with this, and share with each other the sometimes hilarious past.

Today we had Vince Antonucci as our guest at Gateway today and he talked about Identity. Who we are—who we REALLY are in Christ. Not what our broken pasts has set ourselves up to be.


Discussion
Vince talked about when we start to be obedient, follow, and seek Jesus, things begin to work.
1) What are the practical things we do to follow Jesus? Getting started on them might feel like going to the gym after not working out in years.
2) How do you overcome the temptations to not be obedient?

A lot of times we look in the past and we feel like it’s what shapes our present. This is not true, and in fact it’s a lie. When we come into Christ Scripture says we are renewed and are as white as snow. You are a WHOLE person again. That’s right a WHOLE person, not partial, not half, completely new and WHOLE, yet sometimes we don’t feel that way.

1) Why is that the case? And is that true?
2) What do you think being in Christ looks like in a modern day Christian world?


Jesus talked about the parable of the lost sheep. (Read Luke 15:4-6)
Jesus isn’t talking about sheep, he’s talking about you, yeah YOU, reading this right now. What do you think your Father in Heaven is promising you here?

We all have painful wounds from our pasts – some of these have made us have to be the best at everything. Some of these things force us to be more aggressive or more submissive, or more (add your adjective here). Talk about what happened in your past that caused you to be this way, and see if it aligns with a new life Christ.


Community Time
-Prayer
-Group House Keeping

ME 2.0 - New Community - Ted Beasley

Message: ME 2.0 – New Community
Message by Ted Beasley
July 14, 2009
Second Helpings by Paul Wu


Warm-Up
Sometimes we forget to tell each other what we mean to each other. Go around the room and talk about someone else in the group and talk about how their friendship means something to you.

Today Ted wrapped up the series on ME 2.0 with talking about how we need community to help bring us into the new “ME”.

Discussion
1) In the Bible, the evil one always tried to get Jesus when Jesus was alone. He tried to tell a lot of lies to Jesus in those times. What are some of the lies that the evil one has told you when He tried to corner you when you were by yourself?

2) “One person can’t meet all of your needs, so you have to build a web of individuals you can turn to on a variety of levels. Out here in this ring are Mentors” – Ted Beasley
Mentors are biblical and all throughout Scripture. A lot of times it’s hard for us to ask for help and be fully vulnerable to learn from someone. But why do we need mentors? What do we get out of it when we have one?

3) Read Acts 2:42-27
What does the community they describe look like? What’s good about it? How can that be lived out today?

4) Is your group in running partners? (Running partners are also known as accountability partners, they are groups of 2 or 3 that meet outside small group time and is a time to really get close and share) If not, choose some now! Get together and talk about what time you can meet and how you can all help support each other.


Prayer Time
Pray for each other and the group, the church body, and community.

Digging Deeper
If you are considering asking someone to mentor you around a particular topic, you maybe be wondering how to ask someone for their time and how to prepare for the meeting. A helpful guide for this requesting meetings is “Naïve Networking,” an article published by the Acton School of Business here in Austin. Obviously, this article has been written for people seeking business mentors, but many of the same principles apply to finding spiritual mentors. http://www.actonguides.org/pdf/NaiveNet.pdf

ME 2.0: New Mind by John Burke

Message: ME 2.0
New Mind
Message by John Burke
June 7, 2009
Second Helpings by Paul Wu


Warm-Up
What goes on in our mind can be very powerful. Dreams, thoughts, things we read, hear, and so on. Go around the room and share a very powerful thought you had or epiphany you’ve had in your life.

I think John can summarize his message on Sunday the best.
“Few people take into account the power of thoughts—thoughts that lie to us and lead us astray, or the power of thoughts that tell us God’s truth and lead us to life. We’re gonna talk today about the power of your thoughts” – John Burke, ME 2.0

Discussion
Q1) In the message, John talked about a F.B.I agent named Robert Hanssen who believed a lie within his own mind that led him to give away the United States’ most valuable secrets, including how Osama Bin Laden was able to go undetected on September 11th. Lies are so powerful when they build inside our heads.

What lies have you believed before? What lies are you believing now?

Q2) “Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power…you can rely on his power. That’s the way to grow up spiritually. Not by struggling alone to be better, or good, or try, try again. But confronting the darkness of lies, by simply turning on the light.” –John Burke

Giving it to the light can feel tough sometimes. What makes it tough and how do you overcome it?

Q3) Read Romans 8: 1-6 and Ephesians 6:10-12

Q4) Lies can come from us and lies can come from others.
After reading the passage from Romans and Ephesians, what are practical ways we can dispel both in the moments we feel those things?


Community Time
-Prayer
-Group House Keeping

Digging Deeper
Think about looking into a Scripture memory system. Every time Jesus encountered the evil one, He quoted Scripture. The evil one hates Scriptures, and Scripture is truth. If we know truth then we know how to dispel the lies.


I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do… For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing... What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Romans 7:15, 18, 24

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death…in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:1-6

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…spiritual forces of evil.” Ephesians 6:10-12

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my [followers] if you keep obeying my teachings. 32And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13 We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-19


God says you are his masterpiece, created anew in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10),


I will never leave you…I am with you always…cast your cares on me, I care for you.” (Romans 8, 1 Peter 5:7)

His perfect love casts out all fear! (I John 4:18).

God says you can do all things through his power. (Philippians 4:13)

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-19


No one who wants to do wrong should ever say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. 14Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. 15These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death. 16So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.17Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above. James 1:13-17

Message: Me 2.0 New Life by Rick Shurtz

Message: Me 2.0
New Life
Message by Rick Shurtz
May 31, 2009
Second Helpings by Second Helpings Team


Warm-Up
Let’s start with our warm up shall we? And let’s have fun with it this week.
When you go to the grocery store – we make decisions between choosing brand name stuff vs. store brand or generic. Talk about some of the products that are better or worse than the others. For example, I’ve heard some people say Oreos have to be Oreos. But other say, HEB Creamy Creations are better than Blue Bell ice cream. Have with it. If you think that’s silly, just do a check in with each other and see how your weeks have gone.

Introduction to the Message
You see, the warm up relates to Authenticity—which is what Rick talked about in the message. Authenticity and craving the real thing, sometimes though in life. We don’t crave the real thing. We crave a substitute that might not be good for us.

-

Discussion
1)“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” Psalm 119:32 NIV – “That’s interesting…when I hear that a heart has been set free, I think, “A heart set fress is a heart that runs FROM commands not TO commands. I don’t want commands.” –Rick Shurtz

Talk about this first. It’s good point.

Then talk about the times you used your poetic license to do what you wanted in your life, and ask, how well did that work out for ya?

2) In Psalm 119:32 it David says, “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”
That’s sounds great intellectually right? But talk about why we don’t always feel or act as if we can run with God’s commands – in fact we run in the opposite direction of it.

3) Look up Matthew 13:16
What does it say about seeing and hearing? What does hearing and seeing look like?
After you discuss that Read Job 42:5, Job just had the worst possible series of events happen to him, and at the end of it all he says this in 42:5, What do you think is his point?

4) Read Romans 8:12, It’s okay to grow at your pace and be real with where you are. However a few things to take into account. Whenever you grow , you will indeed feel the stretch. Talk about the stretch that you’re dealing with right now. Humbly go before your group to seek counsel on overcoming that stretch.

Keep in mind Scripture says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he care for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Group Time
Pray for each other.

Talk about house keeping in the group.


“For the law made nothing perfect…” Hebrews 7:19, NIV
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God without experiencing a new birth” John 3:3

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

“He who has ears, let him hear” Matthew 11:15 NIV

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34

“…work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12

“The ungodly pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 1:4

ME 2.0: New Heart

Message: Me 2.0
New Heart
Message by Rick Shurtz
May 24th, 2009
Second Helpings by Second Helpings Team Member

Warm-Up

In the message Rick asked everyone to look as something as an improvement or not an improvement.
For example, Cell Phones improvement or not an improvement.

Give a light hearted improvement or not an improvement in your life right now. Maybe you are on the fence about bring the mullet back, maybe you just need that new purse—improvement or not an improvement? Share with the group.

Today Rick kicked of a series called “ME 2.0”. It’s about Change. But let’s face it, “Change” is something that we can’t do even to ourselves. Rick answers, if it’s not change we need then what is it.

1) “So if Scripture doesn’t call us to change, what does it call us to?” , Rick Shurtz said in the passage. Read Galatians 2:20-21. Read and talk about each line, one by one. Really dive in and try to understand the meaning behind what it’s saying. Before you try to interpret. Just talk about the observations you see about the passage (observations of what you can easily see, point out anything that stands out to you) After you do that, then interpret and then apply it to your life and discuss what that looks like.

2) Rick explained how we don’t change. But Christ sets up for us to completely die to our old self.
First answer, What does it mean to die to your old self? Does it mean part? Does it mean all of you?
Next, if you’ve already experienced this, what was it that died? Share with the group.


3) Scripture checks scripture
Read John 3:3 First. Then Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15.
What do you clearly see God is saying to you in these passages? Where we can find tension in this is we can have trouble forgiving others. Maybe you had a spouse, or a loved one who in another life did something to hurt you. Maybe not. Maybe you have trouble forgiving yourself about something that you can’t let go of in a past life. Share.



What about you?
4) Talk about someone you know who had a broken past but was renewed in Christ. No need to give specific names, but just talk about the difference between the two.

5) Where do you need to be renewed in your life? Which part of you needs a new life to Christ? All you have to do is let go.

Community Time
Prayer.
God we are new in Christ because you gave us new life. You allowed us a means to where we could have a new opportunity to have more. God we just pray for each other and any of us who might be going through this process of dying to the old self. Or maybe people who don’t believe they need any healing at all but are truly hurting on the inside. We thank you and we love you. In Jesus’ name.

-Group House Keeping

Digging Deeper
How People Grow by Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend

Scripture mentioned in the message:
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” Galatians 5:22

“If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die…For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you…you will do evil in the sight of the LORD” Deuteronomy 31:27-29

“The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right…The LORD warned Israel: “Turn from your evil ways.” But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God.” 2 Kings 17:9, 13-14

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never erceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” Matthew 13:14-15 NIV

“For the law made nothing perfect” Hebrews 7:19

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:20-21 NIV

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God without experiencing a new birth” John 3:3

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to tfollow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” Ezekiel 36:26-27

“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort” Galatians 3:3

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb…Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone…Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." John 11:38-44, ESV

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked” Ephesians 2:1”

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV

“We were buried therefore with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” Romans 6:4