Taking it further…
Taking it further is all about taking the Sunday sermon beyond Sunday and letting you generate the content. Share your thoughts, insights & Scriptures that correlate with this topic and let’s learn from each other.
Two rules: stay on topic & be encouraging – we want to add value to each other here.
Next Level 2009
Someday is now
God empowers us to make a difference
Be the change you want to see in the world
Elevate Church exists to give fresh expression to the ancient Christian faith by helping people in any stage of their spiritual journey discover their identity in Jesus, live out their faith in community, and participate in the mission of God to our city and the world.
Nehemiah 1.3-4 (pg 371)
To be the change:
you must be __present__ and fully __engaged__.
Geographically and Spiritually
Nehemiah 6.1-3 (pg 374)
To be the change:
you’ll have to _recognize_ what is trying to hinder you.
Getting beyond the player haters & intimidators.
Don’t waste your time on the plain of Ono.
Nehemiah 2.1-3 (pg 371)
To be the change:
you have to address what or who is _king_ in your life.
How do you spend your time, money and energy?
Is Jesus the boss of you?
Nehemiah touched the lives of 50,000 people because he became the change he wanted to see in the world.
Nehemiah 1-6
Colossians 1.6
Hebrews 11.33-34
Movie: Pay It Forward
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One of the biggest things that really sticks out to me on this that to be the change we have to recognize what is trying to hinder us. Obviously we can easily say the enemy will try to hinder us. But the key is asking yourself, what specifically is hindering you. Finding that out may be difficult but once you recognize it cut it loose and move forward. I know in my life there has been some things that might have been hindering me and even though you know you are trying to do great things for God it feels like you are a ship dragging the anchor on the bottom. You are still moving forward but it seems so difficult and expending so much energy just to gain inches. When that happens you tend to lose focus on the purpose and that opens up a whole new realm of problems. Once I found what was hindering me and let it go, I re-focused and was able to move forward much easier. Raise the anchor and push full steam ahead with what God has given you to do great things in your life.
Well said Dave – I hate dragging anchors, let’s move full steam ahead into the next level God has for us. Thanks for the insight and oh yeah, Go Lakers!
Hebrews 11:33-34 pretty much sums it up. By FAITH, we can be the change today. Our weaknesses become our strengths. We can change kingdoms and have enough courage to face the lions.
So, getting to the Next Level requires us to grow and exercise our faith, using it to be able to change our thoughts, actions, and surroundings.
A thought that came to me while studying this was Nehemiah’s determination and drive to do what God wanted him and Jerusalem’s leaders was to rebuild the wall. In order to get to the next level God wants us have the willingness and the humility to say Lord, it’s all yours, be my leader.Through this, He will lead us where He would want us to take. Even though I do have some uncertainties in life, He has revealed to me that through surrendering (no matter what the cost) and having an authentic relationship with Him, He’ll lead me to where He would want me to go–to that next level!
Justin: right on with the stuff on faith – can’t be the change w/o it
Katie: love the “be my leader” statement, we have to address who or what is king in our life and that always requires surrender. By the way, you did a great job helping out on the 1st Impression Team last week.
Great thoughts – keep’em coming Elevate (& friends of Elevate)
Being fully engaged geographically and spiritually is very important. If your not in the right place at the right time you may miss an opportunity to meet someone (to minister or connect) and if your not spiritually in tune with what God has going on you can be in the right location and still not get it that God has something for you to do.
I have missed it in both arenas and I have nailed it as well. Consistently being FULLY engaged is the key for me.
I had a chance to “take it further” this week in my daily Bible reading and for me what God was speaking to me about was in Nehemiah 4. It talks about while rebuilding the city there were people who were “plotting to fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble. But we prayed and posted guard day and night to meet this threat.”(Neh 4:8-9) “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other…..the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked……have every man and helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day.” (Neh 4:17-22)
Satan is going to do all he can to discourage us, try to stall Elevate’s momentum and try to destroy God’s movement in Monroe. I really believe that this passage speaks directly to us at Elevate as we are building this church in Monroe. We need to stand guard day and night to meet this threat. So as we do our work for God and Elevate we should work with one hand and carry our weapon (Bible) in the other. As for standing guard at night I believe this means prayer. We will need to find our prayer warriors (those with the gift of intercession) within Elevate to intercede on the leadership of Elevate, the Launch Team and for Elevate as a church. This does not let the rest of us off the hook because we all need to pray for Elevate.
God is giving each of us an opportunity be part of builing something awesome in Monroe. Let’s do all we can to keep the momentum moving.
Well said Aaron. Love it!
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