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Summary

This sermon focuses on what kind of church we need to be in the 21st century, emphasizing three key characteristics. First, we need to be a church that pursues Christ's love wholeheartedly, untangled from petty controversies and conflicts that damage our witness to the community. Second, we must be a church filled with courage and confidence, not fear, because Christ is already waiting for us in the future and His perfect love casts out all fear. Third, we need to be a church on fire with the Holy Spirit, earnestly desiring spiritual gifts and expecting God to do great and mighty things through us.

Pastor challenges the congregation to move beyond being mere church attenders to becoming active witnesses who invite others to experience Jesus. He emphasizes that we should talk to Jesus about everything, ask for His spiritual gifts, and use our imagination to reach people in creative ways. The sermon concludes with a call to invite friends and neighbors to church, reminding us that people will come if their friends invite them, and encouraging the congregation to prepare for something exciting to happen.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You today with grateful hearts, knowing that You have called us together for this time of fellowship and study. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds to receive what You want to teach us through Your Word today. Help us to set aside any distractions or preconceived notions, and make us receptive to the work of Your Holy Spirit in our lives. Lord, we pray that our discussion would draw us closer to You and to one another, and that we would leave here equipped and encouraged to live out Your love in our daily lives. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What's the most creative or unusual invitation you've ever received, and did you accept it?

Key Verses

• 1 Corinthians 14:1

• Romans 8:31

• 1 John 4:18

Questions

• The pastor mentioned churches splitting over carpet color. What are some trivial things that can divide churches today, and how can we avoid getting caught up in such controversies?

• How can we practically 'pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts' in our daily lives? What would this look like for you personally?

• The sermon emphasized talking to Jesus about everything. What areas of your life do you find it hardest to include God in, and why?

• What does it mean to be a church 'on fire' with the Holy Spirit? How would our church look different if we truly operated with this kind of spiritual passion?

• The pastor said 'courage is not the absence of fear, but the disregard of it.' How can this understanding help us in sharing our faith with others?

• Why do you think many Christians are hesitant to ask God for spiritual gifts? What fears or misconceptions might hold us back?

• The sermon mentioned using imagination and creativity to reach people for Christ. What are some creative ways our church could connect with our community?

• How can we balance being grateful for God's grace while also being bold in our witness to others who don't know Jesus?

Life Application

This week, choose one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus or doesn't attend church. Pray for them daily, and before next week's gathering, extend a genuine invitation for them to visit church with you. Remember, as the pastor said, 'people will come to church if their friends invite them at least once.' Be prepared to share your experience with the group next time.

Key Takeaways

• The church needs to pursue Christ's love wholeheartedly and avoid getting entangled in petty controversies that damage our witness

• We should face the future with courage and confidence because Christ is already there waiting for us, and His perfect love casts out fear

• We must earnestly desire and ask for spiritual gifts, expecting God to work through us in powerful ways

• Imagination and creativity should be used as tools to reach people for Christ, not avoided out of fear or tradition

• Every Christian should actively invite others to church and share what God is doing in their lives, as people are more likely to attend when invited by friends

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for this time of fellowship and discussion. We are grateful for Your grace that has brought us together and for the reminder that You have called us to be a church that pursues love, operates with courage, and burns with the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to take the challenge seriously to invite others into relationship with You. Give us boldness to share our faith and creativity to reach our community in new ways. May we leave here not just as hearers of Your Word, but as doers who actively participate in Your kingdom work. Bless the person each of us will invite this week, and prepare their hearts to be receptive to Your love. We ask all of this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.