Family on Mission

 We exist to Fill the City with Jesus. 

We empower the willing to come fully alive in God’s presence for the renewal of our cities.

  Imagine a group of people in an authentic community, loving each other honestly, covering each other’s sins with forgiveness, prayer, confession, and encouragement, and serving and supporting each other genuinely. It’s in spaces like these where we begin to see the supernatural work of God within our relationships. 

Use this guide with your community, in concert with the Field Journal, as you Strengthen Yourself in the Lord, Manage Your Household, and Fill the City with Jesus.

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Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

Sermon Summary

The picture we see of family in the Old Testament is a grim one, yet a source of hope to use as a blueprint. It’s a wonder how a family survived after you look at the depth of the dysfunction that has been passed on for generations. We see rampant sins piled up that are deep and wide. The end of the Old Testament gives a stark warning of a curse on the land if we don’t figure this out. Fortunately, we have someone who does not come to get rid of our past, but to rebuild a new family. Jesus is the master builder who comes to break the curse off the land and our families if we build it as He designs. What does family look like in the New Testament? Is it a white picket fence with a swing set in the back, the parents living with low cholesterol, and setting up their retirement? Or did Jesus come to bring a family on mission because the stakes of hell and sin are high? As we begin our series on how to manage the household, let’s ask for God’s heart for His design of family—to build what He wants to sustain. Jesus didn’t come to give us nice, cordial families. He came to build families that carry His mission.

Scripture References from the Sermon

|   Malachi 4:5-6   |   Acts 16:31-32   |   1 Timothy 3:4-5   |   1 Timothy 3:15   |   Ephesians 2:19  |   Mark 3:35   |   Matthew 10:34-37   |   1 Timothy 5:8   |   Romans 16:5   |   1 Corinthians 16:19   |   Colossians 4:15   |   Philemon 2   |

Discussion Questions

• Are you surprised by the picture of family from the Old Testament? Why or Why not?
• Does looking at the family in the Old Testament reveal anything about your family? 
• From the scriptures of family and church in the New Testament, what did you find helpful?
• How are you gaining a heart for your home that lines up with God’s?
• Are you seeing a family more like God? What might He be asking you to build?
• How can you hate what God hates and fight the good fight of faith over your home?  Instead of fighting against relationships, fight sin through prayer and the Word.

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Manage Your Household 

Practical spiritual activities:

• Worship together – Dedicate time each week to worship with those in your household.
• Pray together – Dedicate time each day for listening to and speaking with the Lord individually, and as a household. Record ongoing prayer requests into your journal or Field Journal.
• Intercede for one another – Ask those in your household what is on their heart, then pray for one another. Refer to “Prayer Requests From Our Community” below and prayer recorded in your Field Journal and pray together for your city.
• Read together – Spend time together reading God’s Word. Consider the Bible reading guide on our website.
• Journal & Share – Share insight from what you’ve been hearing from the Lord and capturing in your journal weekly.
• Take communion together – For those who are followers of Jesus, consider taking the elements together. There is a communion guide on our website.

Event Highlight 

• Join us for Child Dedication on October 22 and 25 to publicly commit to raising your children in the Lord. Attending a class on intentional parenting  prior to the event is required.
• For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/events  

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Fill Your City

Prayer Requests From Our Community

• Pray for comfort, strength, and healing for elderly members facing chronic illness, injury, or dementia. 
• Pray for those struggling spiritually to break free from hindrances and experience true freedom in God.
• Pray for Reformation Church and Pastors John & April Oxendine

Serve Opportunities 

• In the Church – The Worship Team leads our church in praising and experiencing Jesus. If you feel called to serve and equip others through music and worship, please contact us to schedule an interview.
• In the City – Join us for Carthage Serve Day on Saturday, September 19 as we head into our city to share God’s love through action.
• For more, visit gracechurchsp.org/serve 

Your City

• There are six areas of the city: family, health & wellness, business, education, government, and media. What are ways you can serve in your city?
• Share Your Story about what God is doing in your life and your city here: https://gracechurchsp.org/story/