Sunday
Circles
Building Your Family With Friends
Church On
The rock
Gtcotr/sc041314
Prayer
Hymn: The Old Rugged
Cross
Memory Verse: Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that
He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will
He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (NKJV)
Lesson: Secret
Discipleship
Bible Character: Joseph of
Arimathea and a man called Nicodemus
Pastor Ron’s remarks and intro of First principle
First Principle: God is unafraid of our problems
Scripture Reference:
John 19:38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of
Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away
the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took
the body of Jesus.
Question: What does it mean
to be a “Secret Disciple”?
Follow Up Question: If Christianity
was a crime in America as it is in many countries, what would be the evidence
presented against you in your workplace, school or life’s daily social
activities?
Conclusion: As Christians we are called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. In order to be of any help a light must be seen and salt applied. God is not ashamed nor afraid of the problems our faith in him might give rise to … neither should we be overly concerned about it.
Conclusion: As Christians we are called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. In order to be of any help a light must be seen and salt applied. God is not ashamed nor afraid of the problems our faith in him might give rise to … neither should we be overly concerned about it.
Pastor Ron’s remarks and intro of next
principle
Second Principle: God is unlimited by our past
Scripture Reference: John 19:39 And
Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture
of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Question: How do we often limit
ourselves and others by the choices they have made or things they have said or
done in their past?
Follow Up Question: Should we limit
our acceptance of the Apostles Paul or Peter because of their history of
denying Christ and persecuting the Church? How can we help set others free to
do better than they did.
Conclusion: God is more
interested in what we will do than what we did. Nicodemus had a history of not publicly identifying with Jesus as Messiah but that was the past. God chose
Nicodemus in spite of his past.
Pastor Ron’s remarks and intro of next
principle
Third Principle: God is unashamed to call you His own
Scripture
Reference:
John 19:40 Then
they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices,
as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Question: Do you think God
positions people to stand up and speak up for Him in critical moments?
Follow
Up Question:
Do you imagine anyone expected Joseph or Nicodemus to provide for and bury this
convicted state and Church criminal?
Follow
Up Question:
What do you think motivated these “Secret Disciples” to stand up and speak up
for the Body of Christ in that critical moment?
Conclusion: God prepares us,
promotes us and positions us for our greatest use. When the time comes, we will
find more courage and be more ready than anyone imagines … even if our
Christianity has been a closely guarded secret!
Pastor
Ron closing remarks and the Rest of the Story …
Luke 12
8 "Also I say to you,
whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before
the angels of God.
9 "But he who denies Me
before men will be denied before the angels of God.
There
is a time for every person to stand up and speak up for Jesus. You will know
when it is your time. Light must be seen and salt must be applied to be of any
value. Don’t let your relationship with Christ remain a secret any longer … Be
ready to: Stand up & Speak up for Jesus!
Testimony: Hugh Gibbs … “you
mean you knew … and didn’t tell me …”
Memory Verse
Pre-Praise &
Worship Prayer
will be hosted by one of our Elders, John and Fronnie LeBlanc in the Sanctuary
Studio. Worship will begin in just a few minutes.
