SEPTEMBER 3
CHANGE YOUR WORLD
As school is set to start, let’s go back to the basics. In this series, we discover what it looks like to explore God and be rooted in the fundamentals of the Christian faith. When we begin to discover who God made us to be, and then use our unique identity to love both God and others, we can change the world.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Share about a time in life where you were on the bench. What did that feel like for you? How did you handle the experience?
- What stood out to you from the message?
- Read Exodus 3:3-13 about Moses’ first encounter with God after living in the wilderness for 40 years.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What activities did this early community participate in? What was the byproduct?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
4. Do you feel like you’re living God’s plan A for your life, or plan B? Why do you think that?
5. The formula for “changing your world” is this: current location+opportunity+action= change.
- Fill in this equation for yourself. How are you changing your world through your current circle of influence, the opportunities God is placing before you and the actions you are taking in response? Is there a piece of the equation you are not stepping into or maybe you are not yet seeing?
- What is your next step to begin to fill in that missing piece? How can your community keep you accountable to stepping out to change your world?
KEY SCRIPTURE
EXODUS 3:3-13 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
PRAYER
Pray with your group about your equation above.
- Spend time praying for your areas of influence. Is it your family? Your job? Your friends? The church? Is there an area of influence you are not aware that you have?
- Ask God to reveal to you what opportunities He is giving you there to bring change. If you already know how He’s using you there, invite Him to do more through you.
- Ask God what action He wants you to take in these areas and for the courage and wisdom to know how to do that.
- Finally, ask God to act. What is it that you hesitate to ask Him to do because you think it is too big of an ask? Push through that doubt and ask Him anyway!
TAKE A NEXT STEP
- One great way to begin to change your world is to join a group where you can have influence and also support to step into the opportunities God has for you! https://www.gatewaychurch.com/groups/
- If you are a part of a group, challenge yourself to invite someone to join yours!
FOR THE FAMILIES
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK
This week, kids hear about our fifth Key Concept: Change Your World!
THE BIBLE: Matthew 28:16-20
THE MESSAGE: As we grow our relationship with Jesus, our lives begin to change. We begin to change as well – we become more like Jesus as we spend time with Him, study His word and let the Holy Spirit transform us. But all of this positive change isn’t meant to end with us. From the overflow of what we have received, we can partner with God to change the world around us. One of the main ways that Jesus has charged us to do this is by sharing His love and His story with the world, so that others might come to know Him too.
THE BIG IDEA: I can change the world by sharing Jesus with others.
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation starter that isn’t, “So . . . how was church?”
What is the Good News that Jesus wants us to share with others? What are some ways that we can partner with God to change the world around us?
REMEMBER THIS
We have a different memory verse every week in this series! This week, your kids are memorizing the Bible verse:
Matthew 28:19-20, in case you want to work on them together.
Preschool: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”
Elementary: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
NEXT WEEK
Next week, we’ll begin a new series called God’s Masterpiece!