Southside Forums

[Pastor Charles]

Life Group Lesson
November 18, 2007
Mike Tarry, Life Group Pastor

Romans

Have you ever tried to count how many times you sin each day? Try it-in your vehicle driving down the road, what are you thinking about? What thoughts are running around in your mind? It’s quite disturbing to acknowledge your sinful thoughts, words and actions; therefore we simply don’t do it. But praise the Lord, we have victory over sin. Read Romans 6:12 - Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.

The good news is that God empowers us to refuse to give in to temptation and sin, but the choice is ours to make. Paul commanded the believers to stop letting sin control them. What sin is controlling you? A lot of times we are not even aware sin in controlling us because we have become so desensitized to what sin is. What are some obvious sins that have become a way of life for many? (Not having a Sabbath day, gossip, letting the TV fill our homes instead of the Word of God, etc.) Ask the Lord to reveal any areas in your life where sin has control over you. Then ask Him for the grace to sin less than you did the day before and begin to sanctify yourself through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Are you a Christian? If you are, the scripture tells you in Romans 8:9 that you are not controlled by your sinful nature. Read Romans 8:9-11, what are you controlled by? The same Spirit that will raise all believers from the dead for eternal life with God is available to you now. So let the Holy Spirit lead you in all areas of your life and help you to win the battle of your life God’s way.
Is this statement true in your life, “Because God is Sovereign, I will joyfully submit to His will”? Romans 8:28 has been made famous in times of suffering to many. The sufferings endured by believers are neither in vain nor outside of God’s control. This verse tells us that everything that happens to believers serve a wonderful purpose. We may not always see it, but scripture also tells us in Isaiah 55:8 - "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Are you suffering right now in any area of your life? Ask God why, it’s okay, He wants us to come to Him and seek Him for the truth. This is a quote from C. S. Lewis, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Every bit of pain and suffering in this world serves to rouse humanity from its sinful slumber to seek its sole hope of salvation. Listen closely to the discomforts in your life—what is God saying?

It has also been said that God never wastes a hurt. Does that mean that God hurts us to teach us a lesson? I don’t think so. I do believe however that God allows us to go through circumstances in our lives that serve to remind us that He is in control. Many times it is through those circumstances that we turn our focus from our self back to God. What situation have you been through in your life that made you stop and refocus on God and His plan for your life? Don’t forget that it is through sharing your life stories and situations (your testimony) that others are ministered to and some come to know Jesus as their Savior.

[John and Melissa Simmons]

Wow! Pastor Mike always has the ability to use Gods word to stoke the fires of thought doesnt he? A gift commonly found in the Southside Pastorial staff and other places as well.

You know I sit and think back on the small groups , the fellowship, the laughter and tears shared by many within the small groups I was blessed enough to be involved with. I think its a wonderful ministry , and one that I know personally, helped me through many many days in my early Christian walk. Its an ongoing fellowship and should be . Not only with local Christians but with God. One that I wish existed in the area where I live now.

I hear a lot of calls from the different Pastors for revival of the small groups. This is troublesome to my minds eye and mainly to my heart. Not because that it is called for , but because during the time people made me a part of their small group when I lived there, when I left in the evening, it was very hard not to feel at least a little revived. No matter what was happening in my own life. I am praying that the focus of the small groups is still on God and that the calls for revival are redundant in nature. Meant to encourage and strengthen. And not so much because they are needed. Just as we as people are parts of the body of Christ (the church) , small groups are just larger parts of that same body. Designed to make friends in Christ and empowers us to reach out and help those who may be struggling on a more personalized basis. Everytime you invite a friend or family member, the opportunity knocks to help lead another person towards the path of salvation. The bible is clear in scripture- he that winneth souls is wise.
at the same time we must not allow our comfort zone to be confined to that small group. Being mindful that the group is only a small part of a very large and growing body of Christ. As we grow stronger and more knowledgable about Gods will for our lives, He wants us to build his body up. In order to do that we must listen and follow the guidance of the Spiritual leaders set as overseers of the church. They will follow Gods will as written in scripture and set upon their heart through prayerful means. Ou faith must remain in God to lead those overseers in the way they should go. pray for them always.
I have often told Charles there is no reason the church there cant fulfill the Lords will and the great commision as set forth in matthew 5. He is always in agreement where growth is concerned. Unless every soul on earth is saved, there can never be enough. While it is true the size of the building and so forth doesnt make a difference to God, on the flip side of that coin , he has charged the leaders of his Church every where, to insure the flock is tended to. Which means as the church body at Southside grows. Expansion will be warranted. Just in the time I was living there and a full time member at Southside, God blessed the church their with many gifted people, many funds for advancment of technology to fascilitate the spreading and teaching of Gods word. A childrens worship center was completed. Countless ways of bringin the ministry to the local community were made possible. In a growing church such as Southside those needs and going about the Lords business will be ever more increasing. And not just in reaching out to non beleivers, but in keeping the flock together and focused on Gods purpose for our lives.
The small groups are designed to do both. If you dont have a small group you regularly attend , then find one, visit around, when folks invite you to go , its truly God working through them , inviting you to take part with Him. I know personally I have made a few friends through those groups that will be friends most likely the rest of my life, and I know when studying Gods word in those small groups, that it made us all a bit more knowledgeable and helped us to better understand what God required of us as a body of Christ at Southside. The main issue is this... no matter what group you participate in, the focal point has to be God. If someone has a problem, pray with them, then seek out the answers in Gods word.
Dont ever assume that everyone feels comfortable in the smaller study group setting. I know its easy to find myself intimidated being surrounded by people with a far more vast knowledge of scripture or understnading of Gods will. But remember , scriptures teach that obtaining knowledge about Gods word and will for our lives is so important, that we should be willing to sell all that we have and give all that we have to obtain that knowledge..... when you reach that point, it wont matter who knows more or who might understand better, because God will have bestowed the courage you need to ask questions and seek his truth because you have faith. Rest assured , God makes a way. He has provided the means within his word. All it takes from us is the desire to keep him as the focal point .
If you are ever in doubt about whether or not your focal point is where it should be whether its in small group, sunday school , worship, work, or everyday life. Theres a simple self check that we all can do... ask ourself this question, if God took my life this very instant, would I have some serious explaining to do, or am I truly taking part and witnessing and learning as he would have me to.... theres alot more I could share through God word here. But for everything there is a season... one thought I leave you with is this, Christ say let there be no divisions amongst you. One of the most important callings the small groups have is to close the gap that can sometimes come with larger numbered congregations. making sure all are on the same page. that all have the same goal .. to live as Christians the best we can, and to share that witness so others may find salvation as well. In order to accomplish these things , one thing is for certain. God MUST ALWAYS remain the focal point of the study and fellowship. There will be plenty of time to socialize as well. Even then our witness should bear Gods guiding of our life.
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God Bless ! John and Melissa Simmons