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CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING
1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
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Jean Ross: Good
morning, friends.
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We'd like to welcome all of you
to "Sabbath School Study Hour"
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here at the
Amazing Facts offices
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in Sacramento, California.
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And Pastor Doug and myself,
we are going to be studying
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our lesson together, and this is
lesson number 10 in the series
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we have been studying entitled
"Making Friends for God."
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Lesson number 10 is an
"Exciting Way to Get Involved."
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And so we hope that this will
help inspire you to get involved
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in outreach and
evangelism and witnessing.
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We do have a free offer
we'd like to tell you about.
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It's a book entitled
"Is It Easier to be Saved
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or to be Lost?"
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And this is our
free offer for today.
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If you'd like to receive a copy
of the book, the number to call
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is 866-788-3966 and
ask for offer number 124.
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Again, that number is
866-788-3966, and just ask
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for offer number 124 and
we'll be happy to get that
00:01:27.82\00:01:30.72
in the mail and send it to you.
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If you're outside of North
America, you can get a digital
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download of the
book and you can read it.
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All you have to do is text the
code SH039 to the number 40544.
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Again, that's SH039
to the number 40544.
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You don't have to be
outside North America to get
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the digital download.
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Just text that code wherever you
are in the world and you'll be
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able to read the book,
"Is It Easier to be Saved
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or to be Lost?"
00:02:01.32\00:02:03.59
Well, before we get to our
study this morning, we've got a
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special musical item that
we'd like to share with you
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at this time.
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¤¤¤
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Jean: Welcome back, friends.
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Thank you, Emma and Nathan,
for bringing us that beautiful
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encouraging song,
"The Old Rugged Cross,"
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one of a
favorite of many people.
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Well, before we get to
our lesson, as we always do,
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let's start with
a word of prayer.
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Dear Father, we thank You that
we're able to open up Your Word.
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And even though we are
separated through distance,
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we can still study together.
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We know the Holy Spirit is not
limited to a particular place,
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but he is everywhere, speaking
to our hearts here as well as
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those who are joining us.
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And Father, we pray that as we
study a way in which we can be
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involved--more involved
in witnessing and sharing,
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that You would bless our
time together, for we ask this
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in Jesus's name, amen?
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Well, Pastor Doug, as we
mentioned, our lesson today is
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entitled, "An
Exciting Way to Get Involved,"
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and one of the important things
when it comes to evangelism
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or witnessing is getting
the church members involved.
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We're all part of the body
of Christ, and each part of the
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body has a work to do.
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So that's going to
be our study today.
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And we'd like to let our friends
know, those who are joining us
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on Facebook, we're
happy to take your questions.
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If you have a Bible-related
question or a question related
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to witnessing or small groups
or how do you share your faith,
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this is a wonderful opportunity.
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You can actually make a post
on Doug Batchelor Facebook page,
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and they'll be
emailing those questions to me.
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And we haven't seen the
questions obviously beforehand,
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but we're going to try
and tackle as many questions
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as we can.
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We're going to sprinkle
it throughout our lesson
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as we study together.
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So with that, Pastor
Doug, lesson number 10,
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"An Exciting Way
to Get Involved."
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Doug Batchelor: We
always like to start with
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the memory verse.
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Greetings, friends.
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This is a great
study talking about--
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the title of it is "An
Exciting Way to Get Involved,"
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and it's really--
the theme of the lesson
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is the value and the
importance of small groups.
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And we have a memory
verse, a memory verse I think
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most people know already.
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Matthew chapter 9, verse 37
and 38, "And he said unto his
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disciples, 'The
harvest is truly plentiful,
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but the laborers are few.
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Therefore pray the Lord of
the harvest to send out laborers
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into His harvest.'"
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You know, there's no shortage
of people out there that want
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to and need to hear the gospel.
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We always think,
"I'm afraid to witness.
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Nobody's really interested."
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That's not true.
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There's a lot more people out
there interested than you think.
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The devil wants us to think that
nobody wants to hear the gospel.
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But Jesus said the
harvest is great; the problem
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is we have few laborers.
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And one of the key ingredients,
then, that we're dealing with in
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this lesson is we're more
powerful when we work together.
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Even when Jesus sent his
disciples out witnessing, he
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sent them out in groups
of two or sometimes three.
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You can think of when Paul and
Barnabas and Mark went together
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as a group of three 'cause the
Bible says in the mouth of two
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or three witnesses let
everything be established.
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There's more credibility there
if you've got a team that works
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together, and God created
human beings for fellowship.
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The Bible says it's not
good for man to be alone.
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Of course, that was talking
about wasn't good for Adam
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to not have his Eve, but
it's really a principle of life;
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that man or woman, that we are
designed to be social creatures.
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We are made by a social God who
is comprised of three persons
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in the Trinity.
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And so that plays out being made
in God's image, that we operate
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and we flourish in small groups.
00:10:02.43\00:10:05.63
Jean: And of course we've
got small groups that make up
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our lives in all different ways.
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Most of us have a family.
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That is a small group.
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We participate perhaps at work
with a certain group of people.
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We're interacting with them,
and of course at the church.
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Now, some churches are smaller.
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They might be a
small group in themselves.
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The Bible says where two or
three are gathered together in
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God's name, that's where He is.
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Some churches--most churches,
though, are comprised of,
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you know, anywhere
from 50 to 60 to 100,
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to even 5,600 people, 1,000.
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And it's so important,
especially when the church
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starts getting bigger,
that we have small groups
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within the larger church.
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Then we're going to look
at some of the reasons why
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in our study today.
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We need to be connected
with people and we encourage one
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another in our
witnessing endeavor.
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You know, Pastor Doug, it is
kind of strange that here we're
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talking about the importance of
being in a group and belonging
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and being connected, but at the
same time we're going through a
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pandemic and we're being
told time and time again you got
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to social-distance.
00:11:02.69\00:11:04.69
You got to be separate.
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You got to keep space.
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Now, we are
grateful that this does not--
00:11:08.20\00:11:09.96
this is not the permanent norm.
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At least we hope not.
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Because throughout the
Bible, we do find a theme
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of connecting with people,
especially fellow believers.
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If we're going to be effective
in evangelism, it's connecting
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with others and
working together as a team.
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Doug: Yeah.
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And I think people have
become especially sensitive
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to that during this
pandemic, where so many people
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are feeling isolated.
00:11:30.19\00:11:32.32
They're realizing that, "Yeah,
there might be physical benefits
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in avoiding people that
might have a contagious virus,
00:11:36.32\00:11:39.06
but there are definitely--"
00:11:39.09\00:11:41.53
There are detriments
to our health because--
00:11:41.56\00:11:43.63
as social creatures, and
God designed us that way.
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Some people are
struggling with depression.
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And they say that
even during the pandemic,
00:11:49.30\00:11:51.34
they're seeing a
terrible spike in suicides.
00:11:51.37\00:11:54.41
Some of that may be because some
have lost their jobs and some
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of it just
people feeling isolated,
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and it's
affecting their depression.
00:11:59.55\00:12:01.92
You know, being together is
part of God's original plan.
00:12:01.95\00:12:06.39
You can see here in Genesis
chapter 1, verse 1 and 2,
00:12:06.42\00:12:09.79
"In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth;
00:12:09.82\00:12:12.49
and the earth was out
form-- without form and void,
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and darkness was on
the face of the deep.
00:12:15.40\00:12:17.83
And the Spirit of God
was hovering over the face
00:12:17.87\00:12:20.04
of the waters.
00:12:20.07\00:12:22.20
Then God said, 'Let
us make man in Our image,
00:12:22.24\00:12:25.21
according to Our likeness.
00:12:25.24\00:12:27.31
Let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, over the birds
00:12:27.34\00:12:29.78
of the air, over the cattle,
over all the earth, and over
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every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.'"
00:12:33.72\00:12:36.08
Even God enjoys association.
00:12:36.12\00:12:40.06
Even God wants to socialize.
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And God, the Father, Son, and
Spirit, are seem to be there in
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the creation and all the way to
the last book in the Bible where
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it specifically mentions
God the Father, God the Son,
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and some of the closing
words in the Bible says,
00:12:53.13\00:12:56.00
"And the Spirit
says, 'Whosoever will,
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let them take the
water of life freely."
00:12:58.57\00:13:00.78
And so you have the person--the
assembly of God, those three
00:13:00.81\00:13:06.11
witnesses that are seen right
from the beginning to the end
00:13:06.15\00:13:09.72
of the Bible, and
then God made us where we--
00:13:09.75\00:13:12.92
how do we
communicate intelligence?
00:13:12.95\00:13:15.12
How do we communicate thought?
00:13:15.16\00:13:16.89
You need people
who are listeners.
00:13:16.93\00:13:18.79
We grow as iron sharpens iron.
00:13:18.83\00:13:20.73
So he made us to
be social creatures.
00:13:20.76\00:13:22.96
Jean: You know, God made
us to be social creatures even
00:13:23.00\00:13:25.27
at a high risk,
a risk to Himself.
00:13:25.30\00:13:27.80
And of course we know about sin.
00:13:27.84\00:13:29.90
We have a freewill.
00:13:29.94\00:13:31.91
But despite the risk, God felt
it necessary to create beings
00:13:31.94\00:13:35.54
that could love Him, that
could choose to serve Him.
00:13:35.58\00:13:38.48
We could interact with God.
00:13:38.51\00:13:40.58
God can show His love
and His goodness to us.
00:13:40.62\00:13:42.88
So that sort of places the
importance of being connected
00:13:42.92\00:13:46.29
at a very high level.
00:13:46.32\00:13:48.46
God values friendship.
00:13:48.49\00:13:50.39
He values
interaction, communication.
00:13:50.43\00:13:52.43
Of course, these are all aspects
that we find when it comes to
00:13:52.46\00:13:54.83
evangelism, and especially
connecting in a small group.
00:13:54.83\00:13:57.43
These are some of the benefits
of being connected in a group.
00:13:57.47\00:14:00.47
Now, Pastor Doug, we've got a
question that's come in, and I
00:14:00.50\00:14:03.17
want to thank those of you who
are sending in your questions.
00:14:03.20\00:14:05.51
Again, if you'd like to send a
question related to small groups
00:14:05.54\00:14:08.21
or witnessing, you can do so
at Pastor Doug's Facebook page.
00:14:08.24\00:14:12.05
We have a
question that's come in.
00:14:12.08\00:14:14.28
It says, "My question
is, is there a right time
00:14:14.32\00:14:16.52
and is there a wrong time
to share the Word of God?"
00:14:16.55\00:14:21.02
Doug: I'd say that--of
course, whenever you have
00:14:21.06\00:14:24.26
an opening and as you walk with
God and you walk in the Spirit
00:14:24.29\00:14:29.03
and you practice the skills
of witnessing, you know, you're
00:14:29.06\00:14:32.77
going to represent--or
you're going to recognize
00:14:32.80\00:14:35.40
when there are
those prime times.
00:14:35.44\00:14:38.04
With farming, there's a good
time to put seed in the ground
00:14:38.07\00:14:40.58
and there's a bad time
to put seed in the ground.
00:14:40.61\00:14:43.28
And so there are
seasons, and every day--
00:14:43.31\00:14:46.35
and even in people's
lives, you're going to see there
00:14:46.38\00:14:48.68
are seasons
where a person is open.
00:14:48.72\00:14:51.39
And sometimes you might do a
little test and talk to a person
00:14:51.42\00:14:54.02
about spiritual things.
00:14:54.06\00:14:56.12
You can see they're
kind of closing up to it,
00:14:56.16\00:14:58.06
might not be the right time.
00:14:58.09\00:15:00.23
And so sometimes you'll
never know unless you try,
00:15:00.26\00:15:02.26
and I think we're surprised.
00:15:02.30\00:15:04.37
We assume that people don't want
to hear it, but I think it's
00:15:04.40\00:15:06.27
important to more often
than not what's the risk.
00:15:06.30\00:15:09.87
Float some spiritual inquiry
asking them, you know, where
00:15:09.90\00:15:15.04
they're at spiritually or
find out what their interest is
00:15:15.08\00:15:17.88
and you'd be surprised.
00:15:17.91\00:15:19.91
Some people are more
open than you might think.
00:15:19.95\00:15:21.95
So you might just, you
know, do a little test every now
00:15:21.98\00:15:24.12
and then and see if
you can make progress.
00:15:24.15\00:15:26.42
Jean: You know, one of the
things that we teach in our
00:15:26.45\00:15:28.39
AFCOE class--AFCOE is
the Amazing Facts Center
00:15:28.42\00:15:30.63
of Evangelism.
00:15:30.66\00:15:32.66
We teach witnessing.
00:15:32.69\00:15:34.73
And we ask people--if they meet
someone and they start engaging
00:15:34.76\00:15:36.90
with them and they want to
try and move the conversation to
00:15:36.93\00:15:38.83
spiritual things, one of
the questions they can ask of
00:15:38.87\00:15:41.27
the person is, "Did you grow
up in a religious environment?
00:15:41.30\00:15:44.91
Did you grow up
going to church?"
00:15:44.94\00:15:47.08
And usually we find people
are more willing to talk about
00:15:47.11\00:15:49.28
something that maybe happened
in the past, maybe something
00:15:49.31\00:15:52.21
happened in their childhood,
and you can kind of get a sense
00:15:52.25\00:15:54.82
or a feel as to where they are,
do they still currently go to
00:15:54.85\00:15:57.82
church, do they have
interest in spiritual things.
00:15:57.85\00:16:00.29
So the way that we pose the
question can kind of open up
00:16:00.32\00:16:02.99
the door for some
further discussion.
00:16:03.02\00:16:05.46
So that's a good
thing to keep in mind.
00:16:05.49\00:16:07.60
Ask the person, "Did
you grow up going to church?
00:16:07.60\00:16:10.10
Did you grow up in
a religious family?"
00:16:10.13\00:16:12.13
And usually people are willing
to share about their background
00:16:12.17\00:16:14.30
or about their family.
00:16:14.34\00:16:15.77
Doug: Yeah, you're
asking them about them,
00:16:15.80\00:16:18.07
and sometimes people, they're--
00:16:18.11\00:16:20.51
even if they didn't have
a good experience growing
00:16:20.54\00:16:22.68
up with a religious background,
they're happy for an opportunity
00:16:22.71\00:16:25.81
to vent and to tell--and
then it teaches you a lot about
00:16:25.85\00:16:28.52
where they're at and
what their perspective is.
00:16:28.55\00:16:30.55
That's very important.
00:16:30.59\00:16:32.65
You know, something
else you can see right here
00:16:32.69\00:16:34.62
in the beginning--
now, we're still under
00:16:34.66\00:16:36.39
the section small
groups are God's first idea.
00:16:36.42\00:16:38.73
In the beginning,
families were the catalyst
00:16:38.76\00:16:42.30
for the small groups.
00:16:42.33\00:16:44.40
Abraham offered sacrifice for
his family, and he had a pretty
00:16:44.43\00:16:47.20
large household and--same
thing with Jacob and with Isaac,
00:16:47.24\00:16:51.34
and they would
worship God in their families.
00:16:51.37\00:16:54.78
They didn't have churches
quite like we have today,
00:16:54.81\00:16:57.95
or several places of worship.
00:16:57.98\00:17:00.18
They had altars that were
scattered around the country
00:17:00.22\00:17:02.42
as they wandered.
00:17:02.45\00:17:04.45
One of the dangers you see
is when sin entered the world,
00:17:04.49\00:17:08.29
it damaged relationships.
00:17:08.32\00:17:11.13
Everything from Eve and
Adam blaming each other for sin,
00:17:11.16\00:17:17.03
Cain killing Abel, you can
see that there was some tension,
00:17:17.07\00:17:21.70
some separation.
00:17:21.74\00:17:24.27
And one of the reasons we
need small groups--people say,
00:17:24.31\00:17:27.18
"Well, I don't like
going to small groups,
00:17:27.21\00:17:29.11
'cause I have trouble
getting along with people."
00:17:29.14\00:17:30.98
That's why you
need small groups.
00:17:31.01\00:17:32.71
It's because it helps us
grow, it makes us accountable,
00:17:32.75\00:17:36.15
and it's just part of
God's plan to redeem us to learn
00:17:36.18\00:17:39.05
how to love each other.
00:17:39.09\00:17:40.92
Jean: The plan of
salvation-- plan of redemption
00:17:40.96\00:17:43.43
actually started
in a small group.
00:17:43.46\00:17:46.03
We find in Hebrews chapter
1, verse 2, it says, speaking of
00:17:46.06\00:17:49.06
Christ, "Has in these last
days spoken to us by His son,"
00:17:49.10\00:17:52.63
so God the Father is
communicated by His son,
00:17:52.67\00:17:55.17
"whom He has
appointed heir of all things
00:17:55.20\00:17:57.34
and through whom
also He made the worlds."
00:17:57.37\00:17:59.37
So the plan of salvation
involves the Father, the Son,
00:17:59.41\00:18:02.34
and the Holy Spirit.
00:18:02.38\00:18:04.45
All three play an important part
in our salvation in the plan of
00:18:04.48\00:18:07.68
redemption, and that's an
example for us; that when it
00:18:07.72\00:18:10.42
comes to evangelism or soul
winning, there are different
00:18:10.45\00:18:12.85
roles, different parts
that different people play
00:18:12.89\00:18:15.46
in reaching out to
those in the community.
00:18:15.49\00:18:17.59
Doug: Now, there's one more
part in there that you talked
00:18:17.63\00:18:19.69
about that I think you missed.
00:18:19.73\00:18:21.53
Not only the Father,
the Son, the Spirit and us,
00:18:21.56\00:18:23.83
it says the worlds.
00:18:23.87\00:18:25.73
So--you know, part of the plan
of salvation is redemption of
00:18:25.77\00:18:28.87
this planet because we've been
basically quarantined from the
00:18:28.90\00:18:33.24
unfallen angels and other worlds
that God may have out there,
00:18:33.27\00:18:37.25
and we want to be
restored to communion with God
00:18:37.28\00:18:40.45
and all of His creatures.
00:18:40.48\00:18:42.68
And so being in small groups
and learning to love is part
00:18:42.72\00:18:46.52
of that school.
00:18:46.55\00:18:48.56
Jean: You know, there's an
interesting statement that you
00:18:48.59\00:18:50.53
find in the book, "Fundamentals
of Christian Education."
00:18:50.56\00:18:52.63
This is page 186.
00:18:52.66\00:18:54.83
It says, "The plan of salvation
had its place in the councils
00:18:54.83\00:18:57.73
of the infinite
from all eternity."
00:18:57.77\00:19:01.47
Now, Pastor Doug,
someone might be wondering,
00:19:01.50\00:19:03.64
"Well, what is this council
that's been referred to here?"
00:19:03.67\00:19:06.41
What is the council of
infinite, or who is this group?
00:19:06.44\00:19:12.38
Doug: Yeah, well, when
it says God said, "Let us,"
00:19:12.41\00:19:15.85
there must have
been some sort of forum
00:19:15.88\00:19:19.45
where the
Father, Son, and Spirit--
00:19:19.49\00:19:21.69
I don't know if they
use Holy Spirit telepathy
00:19:21.72\00:19:24.23
when they
communicate with each other.
00:19:24.26\00:19:26.66
I doubt they sat down in a
boardroom with a PowerPoint,
00:19:26.70\00:19:30.90
but they consulted together
and there was an agreement.
00:19:30.93\00:19:35.34
And so even the world
was brought into existence,
00:19:35.37\00:19:38.81
you might say, in the
catalyst of a small group: God.
00:19:38.84\00:19:43.65
Jean: All right.
Well, let me ask a question.
00:19:43.68\00:19:45.78
I think this one
came from the Philippines.
00:19:45.81\00:19:47.68
The question is, "How do
we share the Word with someone
00:19:47.72\00:19:50.49
who is a devout Catholic?"
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.89
So, of course, you have
different denominations in the
00:19:52.92\00:19:54.96
world, different religions.
00:19:54.99\00:19:56.93
How do you share, in particular
this is asking, with someone
00:19:56.96\00:19:59.33
who's a devout Catholic?
00:19:59.36\00:20:01.40
Doug: You know, this
is probably a good time--
00:20:01.43\00:20:03.13
I've just remembered.
00:20:03.16\00:20:05.00
Friends, alert. Now hear this.
00:20:05.03\00:20:07.54
Amazing Facts is doing an
evangelistic meeting that will
00:20:07.57\00:20:10.71
go around the world,
including the Philippines,
00:20:10.74\00:20:13.01
in October of this year.
00:20:13.04\00:20:15.21
We've just done
the release this week.
00:20:15.24\00:20:17.81
The website has
just become active.
00:20:17.85\00:20:20.08
The meetings are called
Revelation Now, and it's talking
00:20:20.12\00:20:24.49
about unfolding or decoding
the Bible secrets of prophecy.
00:20:24.52\00:20:29.82
And I think the subtitle
is, "Things are never going
00:20:29.86\00:20:32.36
to be the same."
00:20:32.39\00:20:34.46
And so Revelation--
now, matter of fact,
00:20:34.46\00:20:36.77
we have a website
called revelationnow.com.
00:20:36.80\00:20:39.30
You can go take a look there
right now, and you can join us
00:20:39.33\00:20:41.87
in being part of
that in the Philippines.
00:20:41.90\00:20:44.11
'Cause if you got a Catholic
friend and they watch that
00:20:44.14\00:20:46.37
series--well, we have a lot of
people from the Catholic Church
00:20:46.41\00:20:49.61
that has said,
"Wow, where have I been?"
00:20:49.64\00:20:51.91
And they've accepted the truth.
00:20:51.95\00:20:53.95
So one thing is, get them
involved in Bible studies.
00:20:53.98\00:20:56.42
You might take them through
an evangelistic program and--
00:20:56.45\00:21:00.52
you know, there's different
subjects that you can study
00:21:00.56\00:21:03.12
gently with your
Catholic friends.
00:21:03.16\00:21:05.43
I find--depending on the
background, I would begin with
00:21:05.46\00:21:07.86
a charismatic, a little
different than I would maybe
00:21:07.93\00:21:10.57
with a Baptist
or--and then again differently
00:21:10.60\00:21:12.80
with a Catholic,
knowing their background.
00:21:12.83\00:21:15.37
One of the things I found
is if you take the Catholics
00:21:15.40\00:21:19.24
into a Bible study of
prophecy, they never get that.
00:21:19.27\00:21:23.08
Just take them
through Daniel chapter 2.
00:21:23.11\00:21:25.85
They're inspired with the
inspiration of the Bible, then
00:21:25.88\00:21:28.78
you can begin to show
them some of the other things.
00:21:28.82\00:21:31.99
I find they always respond well
to the study on the lake of fire
00:21:32.02\00:21:35.96
because they're so happy to
hear that God is a God of love
00:21:35.99\00:21:38.66
and they don't have to
worry about everlasting burning.
00:21:38.69\00:21:42.40
And so there's just a
couple of ideas there.
00:21:42.43\00:21:45.30
What do you think?
00:21:45.33\00:21:47.17
Jean: Absolutely.
Yeah, start by reaffirming.
00:21:47.20\00:21:49.37
And I think this
principle is true no matter
00:21:49.40\00:21:51.21
who you're studying with.
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.01
Start by reaffirming the
authority of the Bible, and I
00:21:53.04\00:21:54.88
think prophecy is one of
the best ways to do that.
00:21:54.91\00:21:56.54
Many of these
different religious groups or
00:21:56.58\00:21:58.75
denominations, we might assume
that the people might study
00:21:58.78\00:22:02.18
the Bible or know
the Bible, and they are.
00:22:02.22\00:22:04.35
There are denominations
that do study the Bible.
00:22:04.39\00:22:07.22
But many of these
different groups, they just sort
00:22:07.26\00:22:09.46
of follow the tradition.
00:22:09.49\00:22:11.93
They might get their information
from a pastor or a priest,
00:22:11.96\00:22:14.56
but they haven't actually sat
down and studied for themselves.
00:22:14.56\00:22:17.47
And so it's an exciting
experience for people who might
00:22:17.50\00:22:20.00
be a devout Christian to
actually get into the Word
00:22:20.04\00:22:23.17
and especially, as
Pastor Doug says, a prophecy.
00:22:23.20\00:22:25.87
Start with Daniel and
work your way into some
00:22:25.91\00:22:28.41
of the prophecies of Revelation.
00:22:28.44\00:22:30.51
These are things that most
denominations shy away from.
00:22:30.55\00:22:33.88
They stay away from
Revelation and Daniel.
00:22:33.92\00:22:36.38
So we have a great opportunity
to share it with people
00:22:36.42\00:22:38.52
from those books.
00:22:38.55\00:22:40.72
Well, the next section that we
have in our lesson, and probably
00:22:40.76\00:22:42.86
need to move along here,
is small groups in Scripture.
00:22:42.89\00:22:46.26
And of course, we looked at
small groups at the beginning.
00:22:46.29\00:22:48.70
We can see God Himself, the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
00:22:48.73\00:22:51.70
a small group right there.
00:22:51.73\00:22:54.10
But in the Bible, we
also have small groups,
00:22:54.14\00:22:56.04
both in the Old
Testament and the New Testament.
00:22:56.07\00:22:58.07
Doug: Yes, sir, like when Moses
00:22:58.11\00:23:00.18
was going
through the wilderness,
00:23:00.21\00:23:02.04
his father Jethro
came to visit him.
00:23:02.08\00:23:03.98
He saw Moses was
sitting from dawn till
00:23:04.01\00:23:06.98
dusk judging the people.
00:23:07.02\00:23:08.78
He said, "You're
going to surely wear away.
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.02
This is too great for you."
00:23:11.05\00:23:12.82
He said, "You need
to organize your people
00:23:12.85\00:23:15.46
into smaller groups."
00:23:15.49\00:23:17.33
And you can
find in Exodus 18:21.
00:23:17.36\00:23:19.59
He said, Exodus 18:21 and
22, "Moreover you shall select
00:23:19.63\00:23:23.90
from all the people
able men, such as fear God--"
00:23:23.93\00:23:26.53
Small groups
need to have leaders.
00:23:26.57\00:23:28.57
So that's another subject,
how to be a small group leader.
00:23:28.60\00:23:32.24
"Able men, such as fear God, men
of truth, hating covetousness,
00:23:32.27\00:23:35.98
and place such over them
to be rulers of thousands,
00:23:36.01\00:23:38.75
rulers of hundreds, rulers
of fifties, rulers of tens."
00:23:38.78\00:23:42.72
I was just looking
this morning online.
00:23:42.75\00:23:45.42
The smallest unit in an army is
a squad that will have somewhere
00:23:45.45\00:23:49.62
between 17--7 to 14 soldiers.
00:23:49.66\00:23:52.69
So that'd be like--group
of ten would be that category.
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.76
But the army found that
that's the smallest group,
00:23:55.80\00:23:58.53
and they needed a
leader, usually a sergeant,
00:23:58.57\00:24:00.97
and they were very effective.
00:24:01.00\00:24:03.00
You'd send a squad on a mission.
00:24:03.04\00:24:05.41
And it says that the
smallest group was ten.
00:24:05.44\00:24:07.94
"And let them judge the people
at all times, and then it will
00:24:07.98\00:24:11.05
be that every great
matter they'll bring to you--"
00:24:11.08\00:24:13.55
Now, Moses was
the Supreme Court.
00:24:13.58\00:24:15.62
"But every smaller matter, they
will judge themselves so it will
00:24:15.65\00:24:18.85
be easier for you and they
will bear the burden for you."
00:24:18.89\00:24:22.06
You know, if pastors would all
get the vision of small groups,
00:24:22.09\00:24:26.19
they wouldn't have to be wearing
themselves out, especially
00:24:26.23\00:24:28.80
when you get a church
of 200 or 300 members.
00:24:28.83\00:24:31.57
The key is build up
your leaders, men and women
00:24:31.60\00:24:34.57
who can lead in small groups.
00:24:34.60\00:24:36.74
And you can have
different groups.
00:24:36.77\00:24:38.64
You can have a small
group for the collegiate.
00:24:38.67\00:24:40.48
You can have a small
group for the young mothers.
00:24:40.51\00:24:42.14
You can have a small group
for retired men or just anything
00:24:42.18\00:24:46.11
where they can connect together,
and then keep it with a biblical
00:24:46.15\00:24:50.09
Bible study focus
and an outreach focus.
00:24:50.12\00:24:52.92
Jean: You know, Pastor Doug,
you're so right, especially,
00:24:52.95\00:24:55.02
you know, our own church
just to share with our folks
00:24:55.06\00:24:57.29
who are joining us.
00:24:57.33\00:24:59.23
We're in the process of
building, and we hope that our
00:24:59.26\00:25:01.13
facility will be available
and we'll be able to meet.
00:25:01.16\00:25:03.37
But Granite Bay has a
membership of over 600, and one
00:25:03.40\00:25:06.33
of the challenges we have
is keeping people connected.
00:25:06.37\00:25:09.54
We're very excited.
00:25:09.57\00:25:11.41
The pastoral staff of the
Granite Bay church, we've spent
00:25:11.44\00:25:13.38
some time looking at how we can
connect people, especially when
00:25:13.41\00:25:17.18
the new church facility begins.
00:25:17.21\00:25:19.51
One of the areas that we're
thinking about, which is a great
00:25:19.55\00:25:21.75
idea, is to connect
people who are going through
00:25:21.78\00:25:24.09
similar life experiences.
00:25:24.12\00:25:26.19
For example, young families.
00:25:26.22\00:25:28.32
They have a little child.
00:25:28.36\00:25:30.23
They go to
Sabbath school together.
00:25:30.26\00:25:32.03
They're going through
similar life experiences.
00:25:32.06\00:25:33.90
The youths; they're going
through different challenges,
00:25:33.93\00:25:35.83
different things that they
face, so pull them together.
00:25:35.86\00:25:37.93
You even got those
who have retired and have
00:25:37.97\00:25:40.70
a little more
time on their hands.
00:25:40.74\00:25:42.74
Connect them together and they
can start planning and doing
00:25:42.77\00:25:45.04
some kind of outreach.
00:25:45.07\00:25:47.14
So there's different stages that
a person goes through in life,
00:25:47.18\00:25:49.54
and you can cluster or organize
these small groups based upon
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.85
where people are in their
experience, in their walk.
00:25:52.88\00:25:56.38
We found this to be a lot
more effective in pulling people
00:25:56.42\00:25:58.99
together that have
something in common.
00:25:59.02\00:26:01.19
Doug: Amen, you know,
along with what happened
00:26:01.22\00:26:04.16
there with Moses
dividing the people up into
00:26:04.19\00:26:07.13
various group
sizes, Jesus did this when
00:26:07.20\00:26:09.76
they distributed the bread.
00:26:09.80\00:26:11.93
Now, the bread for us, of
course, is the Word of God.
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.57
And so as churches get
together for bread distribution,
00:26:14.60\00:26:17.94
that's studying the
Bible, how did he do it?
00:26:17.97\00:26:20.51
Well, it says here that
there were about 5,000 men,
00:26:20.54\00:26:23.35
not counting women and
children, that were fed when
00:26:23.38\00:26:25.65
he multiplied the bread.
00:26:25.68\00:26:27.72
And he said, "Make them
sit down in groups of 50."
00:26:27.75\00:26:29.88
But you look in Mark 6, verse
39, it says, "He commanded them
00:26:29.92\00:26:33.02
to all sit down in
groups on the green grass.
00:26:33.05\00:26:35.86
So they sat down in ranks
of hundreds and in fifties."
00:26:35.89\00:26:39.33
Now, 50 would be a pretty
big small group, but--you know,
00:26:39.36\00:26:46.17
I don't agree with everything
they do, but I think it's
00:26:46.20\00:26:48.27
in the Jehovah Witness church.
00:26:48.30\00:26:50.37
I agree that they
go out two by two.
00:26:50.41\00:26:52.27
That's a
biblical-- it's a good method.
00:26:52.31\00:26:53.98
I don't agree with
their message, good method.
00:26:54.01\00:26:55.44
Something else they do;
when they get to church and they
00:26:55.48\00:26:57.31
reach about, I think
it's 300, they then swarm
00:26:57.35\00:27:00.38
and they say it's time
to start another group.
00:27:00.42\00:27:02.82
You almost don't want
a church to get too big.
00:27:02.85\00:27:05.65
Now, we're doing something
that's a little bit of an
00:27:05.69\00:27:08.59
exception here with the
Granite Bay church 'cause we are
00:27:08.62\00:27:11.39
a church that is
training churches.
00:27:11.43\00:27:13.23
So we needed a bigger
facility for congregations,
00:27:13.26\00:27:15.53
but we just planted--
00:27:15.56\00:27:18.00
or, I should say,
we're in the process
00:27:18.03\00:27:19.83
of planting another church.
00:27:19.87\00:27:21.70
Granite Bay is a church
plant of Sacramento Central,
00:27:21.74\00:27:25.91
and Sacramento Central
planted several churches
00:27:25.94\00:27:28.18
and they all
started with small groups.
00:27:28.21\00:27:30.78
Well, we had about 12
when we started Granite Bay.
00:27:30.81\00:27:33.05
Jean: That's right,
started in somebody's living
00:27:33.08\00:27:34.62
room with about 12, 13
people and grew from there.
00:27:34.65\00:27:37.59
So the principle
definitely works.
00:27:37.62\00:27:39.89
The next section that we have--
maybe I'll ask a question here,
00:27:39.92\00:27:42.29
Pastor Doug,
that somebody sent in.
00:27:42.32\00:27:43.99
It might be a good time to ask.
00:27:44.03\00:27:45.83
Very important question.
00:27:45.86\00:27:47.50
So it's not directly
related to small groups,
00:27:47.50\00:27:49.23
but the question I
think all of us have.
00:27:49.26\00:27:51.33
It says, "Pastor Doug,
what would you recommend
00:27:51.37\00:27:53.34
for somebody to do who is trying
to have a personal revival
00:27:53.37\00:27:57.31
in their life?"
00:27:57.34\00:27:59.31
Personal revival.
00:27:59.34\00:28:01.51
Doug: Well, I think that
the three keys to revival
00:28:01.54\00:28:03.98
are found in the holy
place of the sanctuary.
00:28:04.01\00:28:07.18
They are the
secret weapons for revival
00:28:07.22\00:28:11.15
and for the disciplines
of a successful Christian.
00:28:11.19\00:28:14.99
There were three
things in that room.
00:28:15.02\00:28:16.79
You had the altar of
incense, which represents prayer
00:28:16.83\00:28:20.63
according to Revelation; you had
the bread, which is a symbol for
00:28:20.66\00:28:24.93
the Word of God; and
then you had a light,
00:28:24.97\00:28:27.47
which is a
symbol for witnessing,
00:28:27.50\00:28:29.57
letting your light shine.
00:28:29.60\00:28:31.37
And so if a Christian is
involved in daily prayer,
00:28:31.41\00:28:33.94
seeking after God; praying
not just in regular times,
00:28:33.98\00:28:37.01
but through the
day, walking with Christ;
00:28:37.05\00:28:39.65
reading the Word and getting
an adequate Bible study in,
00:28:39.68\00:28:43.69
that could be part of being
part of a Bible study group,
00:28:43.72\00:28:46.52
and then doing
something with their faith.
00:28:46.55\00:28:48.62
Don't just sit on
it, but share your faith.
00:28:48.66\00:28:50.86
Somehow reach out
and minister to others.
00:28:50.89\00:28:54.20
And I found if
people do these things,
00:28:54.20\00:28:56.63
it's the best
formula for growth.
00:28:56.67\00:28:58.53
Jean: Well, you
know, Pastor Doug,
00:28:58.57\00:29:00.20
it's interesting
you mentioned the light
00:29:00.24\00:29:01.87
could represent
sharing our faith.
00:29:01.90\00:29:03.44
And it wasn't just one lamp
in the holy place, it said seven
00:29:03.47\00:29:06.27
branch candlesticks.
00:29:06.31\00:29:08.18
So they were tied together.
00:29:08.21\00:29:09.98
Effective witnessing
is connecting with others.
00:29:10.01\00:29:12.88
Be involved in a small group;
planned together, organized
00:29:12.91\00:29:16.05
together, and start
reaching out to those
00:29:16.08\00:29:18.29
in the community around you.
00:29:18.32\00:29:20.22
Well, then that brings
us to our next section,
00:29:20.26\00:29:22.19
which is organizing for service.
00:29:22.22\00:29:24.06
So the purpose of a small group
isn't just for us to interact
00:29:24.09\00:29:26.39
and strengthen
ourselves spiritually,
00:29:26.43\00:29:28.23
but we're to be evangelistic.
00:29:28.26\00:29:30.60
The Great Commission that Jesus
gave us is to go make disciples.
00:29:30.63\00:29:34.00
Preach the gospel.
00:29:34.04\00:29:35.94
And so that needs to be a
central theme of every small
00:29:35.97\00:29:38.84
group not only inreach,
but we also need to have
00:29:38.87\00:29:41.71
an emphasis on outreach.
00:29:41.74\00:29:44.15
And that's the next section.
00:29:44.18\00:29:46.08
We see an illustration that Paul
gives us in 1 Corinthians about
00:29:46.11\00:29:49.62
how the church and these
different small groups are
00:29:49.65\00:29:52.29
to work together.
00:29:52.32\00:29:54.19
Doug: You're going to go--why
don't you read 1 Corinthians,
00:29:54.22\00:29:56.29
what, 12 through verse 26?
00:29:56.32\00:29:57.76
Jean: Yes, 1 Corinthians
12 beginning verse 12 it says,
00:29:57.79\00:30:00.86
"For as the body is
one and has many members;
00:30:00.90\00:30:03.37
but all the
members of that one body,
00:30:03.40\00:30:05.47
being many, are one
body, so also is Christ.
00:30:05.50\00:30:09.74
For by one Spirit we were
all baptized into one body;
00:30:09.77\00:30:13.11
whether Jews or
Greeks, whether slaves or free;
00:30:13.14\00:30:15.81
and all have been made to
drink into that one Spirit.
00:30:15.84\00:30:19.78
For in fact the body is not
one member, but many members.
00:30:19.81\00:30:23.99
If the foot should say,
'Because I'm not the hand,
00:30:24.02\00:30:26.45
I am not part of the
body,' is there therefore not--
00:30:26.49\00:30:30.83
is it therefore not of the body?
00:30:30.86\00:30:32.99
And if the ear should
say, 'Because I'm not an eye,
00:30:33.03\00:30:35.23
I am not of the body,' is
it therefore not of the body?
00:30:35.26\00:30:38.67
If the whole body were an
eye, where would the hearing be?
00:30:38.70\00:30:42.44
If the whole were hearing,
where would the smelling be?
00:30:42.47\00:30:45.84
But now God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body
00:30:45.87\00:30:49.44
just as He is pleased,
that there should be no schism
00:30:49.48\00:30:53.05
in the body, but the members
should have the same care
00:30:53.08\00:30:56.12
for one another.
00:30:56.15\00:30:58.15
And if one member suffers,
all members suffer with it;
00:30:58.19\00:31:00.72
or if one member is honored,
then all rejoice with it."
00:31:00.76\00:31:04.53
So we can see there's
different responsibilities,
00:31:04.56\00:31:07.03
different gifts that God has
given and as we work together
00:31:07.10\00:31:10.33
in small groups.
00:31:10.37\00:31:12.30
Now it's interesting to note,
different groups might have
00:31:12.33\00:31:14.47
a different form or a different
emphasis in evangelism.
00:31:14.50\00:31:18.07
The hand would do something
different than the foot.
00:31:18.11\00:31:20.58
It's all
connected to the same body.
00:31:20.61\00:31:22.68
So you could have
different groups focusing
00:31:22.71\00:31:24.68
on outreach in different ways.
00:31:24.71\00:31:26.61
Doug: Yeah, you know, I
think this is the beauty,
00:31:26.65\00:31:28.48
and the key to understanding
the success of small groups
00:31:28.52\00:31:31.55
is that you're going to have--
00:31:31.59\00:31:33.59
every small group is
going to be different
00:31:33.62\00:31:35.69
and it's going to be made up of
people, and people are unique.
00:31:35.72\00:31:39.13
And the key for Christians
is learning to love and grow
00:31:39.16\00:31:42.86
everybody regardless of what
their different temperaments
00:31:42.90\00:31:46.60
and personalities are, and
those differences are usually
00:31:46.63\00:31:50.54
because God made them different.
00:31:50.57\00:31:52.91
And so learning to love
people and say, "All right.
00:31:52.94\00:31:54.88
Well, this person may
not be an ear, but maybe
00:31:54.91\00:31:57.41
they're an eyeball,
maybe they're a nose,
00:31:57.45\00:31:59.35
maybe they are
a foot or a hand."
00:31:59.38\00:32:01.62
And just find out where
is their spiritual gift?
00:32:01.65\00:32:03.49
Where do they fit into the body,
and help them to flourish, help
00:32:03.52\00:32:06.65
them to be affirmed in
what their role is in the body.
00:32:06.69\00:32:10.39
And when spiritual--
00:32:10.43\00:32:12.33
when small groups get
together and they recognize,
00:32:12.36\00:32:14.20
"We're going to use
everybody's different gifts--"
00:32:14.20\00:32:16.33
Just a famous
quote from history--
00:32:16.36\00:32:19.03
I don't know who said it first,
00:32:19.07\00:32:20.84
but if you want to
go fast, you go alone.
00:32:20.87\00:32:22.70
But if you want to
go far, you go together.
00:32:22.74\00:32:25.71
And I've just
read several stories.
00:32:25.74\00:32:27.68
I've talked many times about
the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
00:32:27.71\00:32:30.51
And when Captains Lewis and
Clark were getting their team
00:32:30.55\00:32:34.58
together, about 38
or 40 different guys,
00:32:34.62\00:32:37.12
they deliberately
picked very different people.
00:32:37.15\00:32:39.75
They had one guy who
was an expert blacksmith.
00:32:39.79\00:32:42.66
They had someone else
who was an expert hunter.
00:32:42.69\00:32:45.16
They had someone
else that could--
00:32:45.19\00:32:47.40
an expert on the
water with rowing,
00:32:47.46\00:32:49.60
then they had a carpenter.
00:32:49.63\00:32:51.57
They had all these that were
so different, but they worked
00:32:51.60\00:32:53.97
together as a unit to
do something remarkable.
00:32:54.00\00:32:57.87
I'll tell you another quick
story most people don't know.
00:32:57.91\00:33:00.61
That the reason we have an
interstate highway system in
00:33:00.64\00:33:04.01
North America is because there
was a young captain who was
00:33:04.05\00:33:08.58
given the commission, I think in
the 1920s, to travel all the way
00:33:08.62\00:33:12.85
from Washington to California
with a group of soldiers.
00:33:12.89\00:33:16.39
There were no roads back then.
00:33:16.42\00:33:18.56
Automobiles were
still in their infancy.
00:33:18.59\00:33:20.76
And they took these primitive
vehicles and they had to build
00:33:20.80\00:33:23.70
the road as they went, forging
deserts and crossing creeks.
00:33:23.73\00:33:29.27
Well, the captain
was Dwight D. Eisenhower.
00:33:29.30\00:33:32.54
And then when he went to Europe
during World War II and he saw
00:33:32.57\00:33:35.48
the autobahns, he came
back, he became president,
00:33:35.51\00:33:38.18
and he said, "We
need to fix our roads."
00:33:38.21\00:33:40.42
But the only way he
made it across the country
00:33:40.45\00:33:42.48
is he had people
all different gifts.
00:33:42.52\00:33:44.85
Some of them were on
primitive motorcycles.
00:33:44.89\00:33:47.19
He had mechanics,
a lot of mechanics.
00:33:47.22\00:33:49.36
He had welders and
blacksmiths and engineers.
00:33:49.39\00:33:52.66
But using the different gifts,
they were able to build roads
00:33:52.69\00:33:55.23
and get all the way across
the country with no roads.
00:33:55.26\00:33:58.90
And so you go far together.
00:33:58.93\00:34:01.24
You can go fast alone,
but you go a lot farther
00:34:01.27\00:34:04.74
if you can work together.
00:34:04.77\00:34:06.84
That's the way it is as a group.
00:34:06.88\00:34:08.81
You support each other
and use our different gifts.
00:34:08.84\00:34:10.55
Jean: Absolutely,
and I think we have spent
00:34:10.58\00:34:12.31
some time in our study
talking about different gifts
00:34:12.35\00:34:14.22
that God has
given different people
00:34:14.25\00:34:15.92
and how we can
utilize our gifts.
00:34:15.95\00:34:17.82
Now, Pastor Doug, we have
a question that's come in.
00:34:17.85\00:34:19.69
And it's not exactly
on our topic, but it's a--
00:34:19.72\00:34:22.69
I don't think we've ever
seen this question before.
00:34:22.72\00:34:24.63
So we want to ask it.
00:34:24.66\00:34:26.13
It's kind of an interesting--
not a hard question,
00:34:26.16\00:34:27.66
but it's an interesting one.
00:34:27.73\00:34:29.33
It says, "Dear pastors,
this isn't on the Bible topic,
00:34:29.36\00:34:32.40
but it's on tithe."
00:34:32.43\00:34:34.34
And here's the question.
00:34:34.37\00:34:36.20
"If you saving tithe during time
or during this time, a large sum
00:34:36.24\00:34:39.74
of tithe, and somebody steals
that, are you still to come up
00:34:39.77\00:34:44.48
with the tithe again?"
00:34:44.51\00:34:46.41
So you've been setting
aside your tithe, somebody stole
00:34:46.45\00:34:48.75
the tithe before you
were able to turn it in.
00:34:48.78\00:34:51.35
Do you have to come
up with that tithe again?
00:34:51.39\00:34:55.19
Doug: Well, I would say that
if you have a debt that you owe,
00:34:55.22\00:35:00.73
if someone steals the money
you were going to use to pay
00:35:00.76\00:35:04.17
that debt, does
the debt go away?
00:35:04.20\00:35:06.57
So I know that
that's a difficult answer.
00:35:06.60\00:35:08.67
I would just say God's
going to show you mercy.
00:35:08.70\00:35:10.97
So it's not--God is not
going to be looking saying--
00:35:11.01\00:35:13.41
you know, folding his arms
and tapping his foot and saying,
00:35:13.44\00:35:15.71
"Where's my money?"
00:35:15.74\00:35:17.65
But I would say, "All
right, Lord, maybe it was stolen
00:35:17.68\00:35:20.72
because I was responsible
and I misplaced it or whatever.
00:35:20.75\00:35:25.52
I pray you can
get it back and--"
00:35:25.55\00:35:28.19
But in the meantime, I'd make
a mental note and say, you know,
00:35:28.22\00:35:30.53
"As time goes by, I
want to pay some extra tithe
00:35:30.56\00:35:32.76
and cover what was stolen."
00:35:32.79\00:35:34.56
Jean: Maybe you won't be able
to come up with enough to pay
00:35:34.56\00:35:36.30
all of it, but it would be
nice if you could at least try
00:35:36.33\00:35:38.83
to do as much as you
can to contribute to that.
00:35:38.87\00:35:42.54
And of course, I think you've
learned from that experience.
00:35:42.57\00:35:45.04
You won't be leaving the
money out for somebody else
00:35:45.07\00:35:46.94
to take it.
00:35:46.98\00:35:48.81
Another
question that we have is,
00:35:48.84\00:35:50.45
"What is the best way to
discover your spiritual gift?"
00:35:50.48\00:35:53.82
Doug: That's a good question.
00:35:53.85\00:35:56.05
One of the things--we actually
have a spiritual gift survey,
00:35:56.08\00:35:58.79
and some of you might want
to email the Granite Bay church
00:35:58.82\00:36:02.22
and we'll try to share with--
00:36:02.26\00:36:04.33
that with you if
there's a way to do that online,
00:36:04.36\00:36:06.03
but there's
spiritual gifts surveys.
00:36:06.06\00:36:07.83
You can probably find them
online 'cause a lot of churches
00:36:07.86\00:36:09.90
use the same information to--you
don't have to be a Seventh-day
00:36:09.93\00:36:13.03
Adventist to find out what--how
do we evaluate spiritual gifts.
00:36:13.07\00:36:17.71
Sometimes it's things
that you gravitate towards.
00:36:17.74\00:36:20.18
God puts certain
desires in your heart.
00:36:20.21\00:36:22.41
You can counsel
with other people.
00:36:22.44\00:36:25.05
The Bible tells us in
the multitude of counselors
00:36:25.08\00:36:27.28
there is safety.
00:36:27.32\00:36:29.05
Talk to those
who know you and say,
00:36:29.08\00:36:30.75
"What do you think
my spiritual gifts are?"
00:36:30.79\00:36:32.39
There's actually
a test you can take
00:36:32.42\00:36:33.96
where you
answer these questions,
00:36:33.99\00:36:35.49
and at the end it says,
00:36:35.52\00:36:37.19
"Based on how you
answered these questions,
00:36:37.23\00:36:38.79
you probably have
spiritual gifts in A, B, C."
00:36:38.83\00:36:40.66
It's like an inventory.
00:36:40.70\00:36:42.40
You know, when students go
to college and they're trying
00:36:42.43\00:36:44.30
to figure out, "What am I
supposed to do with my life?"
00:36:44.33\00:36:46.23
They have these tests they take.
00:36:46.27\00:36:48.04
And they get evaluated by kind
of placement counselors and say,
00:36:48.07\00:36:50.74
"You know, you
really have strong gifts
00:36:50.77\00:36:52.84
in mechanical areas.
00:36:52.87\00:36:54.71
You should do
engineering," or whatever.
00:36:54.74\00:36:56.61
Or "You got real strong
spiritual gifts in education."
00:36:56.64\00:36:59.71
And they have some good tests
that help you evaluate that.
00:36:59.75\00:37:02.12
They have those
online for Christians too.
00:37:02.15\00:37:04.29
They'll say, "Your spiritual
gifts are really strong
00:37:04.32\00:37:06.32
in these areas."
00:37:06.35\00:37:08.42
It doesn't mean it's the
only place, but that's some
00:37:08.46\00:37:10.59
of the things you can do.
00:37:10.63\00:37:11.73
Jean: Absolutely.
It's a good place to start.
00:37:11.76\00:37:13.33
And then also you might want
to talk to some of the other
00:37:13.36\00:37:15.10
believers in the church and say,
"Do you recognize a particular
00:37:15.13\00:37:18.53
gift that I have?"
00:37:18.57\00:37:20.50
They might be something
that you might not realize
00:37:20.54\00:37:22.34
that you're really good at.
00:37:22.37\00:37:23.84
It might correspond with your
personality or your talents,
00:37:23.87\00:37:26.34
your abilities.
00:37:26.37\00:37:27.98
Maybe you're good with music,
and that might be a talent.
00:37:28.01\00:37:30.21
One of the other areas to
discover your spiritual gift is
00:37:30.25\00:37:33.21
look at the needs of the church.
00:37:33.25\00:37:35.18
You know, we've had situations
in some of the churches I've
00:37:35.22\00:37:37.45
pastored where there was a
particular position that needed
00:37:37.49\00:37:39.75
to be filled and the
church members all said,
00:37:39.79\00:37:41.86
"Well, that's not my gift.
00:37:41.89\00:37:43.32
That's not my gift."
00:37:43.36\00:37:44.99
And it took somebody to say,
"All right, it might not be my
00:37:45.03\00:37:46.93
perfect gift, but I
know there's a need.
00:37:46.96\00:37:48.83
I'm going to step
in and do my best."
00:37:48.86\00:37:50.93
And sure enough, they really
enjoyed it and they discovered,
00:37:50.97\00:37:53.27
"You know what?
00:37:53.30\00:37:54.87
This is a gift that God
has given me in this particular
00:37:54.90\00:37:56.47
area of service."
00:37:56.50\00:37:58.21
So sometimes if there's a need,
that might be the Lord leading
00:37:58.24\00:38:00.81
you to step in there
and do the best you can
00:38:00.84\00:38:03.51
and then He can
multiply or bless your efforts.
00:38:03.55\00:38:06.15
Doug: Yeah, I just talked to
somebody this week that has been
00:38:06.18\00:38:08.92
a Christian for years,
and there was a desperate need
00:38:08.95\00:38:11.89
in the adventure program.
00:38:11.92\00:38:13.62
And this person is in
their 50s and they thought,
00:38:13.66\00:38:15.39
"Well, if no one's
going to do it, I'll step in."
00:38:15.42\00:38:17.49
And then they said,
"Voila this is my gift.
00:38:17.53\00:38:20.90
I love it."
00:38:20.93\00:38:21.96
And now they're just
really loving working
00:38:22.00\00:38:24.83
with the adventures group.
00:38:24.87\00:38:26.47
They did not know they
had that spiritual gift.
00:38:26.50\00:38:28.54
Let me read a
quote, Pastor Ross,
00:38:28.57\00:38:30.21
'cause this is a good one.
00:38:30.24\00:38:31.47
I don't want to run out of time.
00:38:31.51\00:38:32.81
It's in your lesson, but
it's from the seventh volume
00:38:32.84\00:38:35.04
of the "Testimonies for
the Church," page 21 and 22.
00:38:35.08\00:38:39.25
"The formation of
small companies as a basis of
00:38:39.28\00:38:42.78
Christian effort has
been presented to me by one
00:38:42.82\00:38:45.92
who cannot err.
00:38:45.95\00:38:47.79
If there is a large number in
the church, let the members be
00:38:47.82\00:38:50.39
formed into small companies
to work not only for the church
00:38:50.43\00:38:54.10
members, but for unbelievers.
00:38:54.13\00:38:56.33
If one place--if in one place
there are only two or three
00:38:56.36\00:39:00.87
who know the truth,
let them form themselves
00:39:00.90\00:39:03.07
into a band of workers.
00:39:03.10\00:39:04.74
Let them keep their bond,
even if it's only two or three,"
00:39:04.77\00:39:06.74
she said.
00:39:06.78\00:39:08.74
"Let them keep their bond
of union unbroken, pressing
00:39:08.78\00:39:11.05
together in love and
unity; encouraging one another
00:39:11.08\00:39:13.82
to advance, each
gaining courage and strength
00:39:13.85\00:39:16.75
from the insistence of the--
00:39:16.79\00:39:19.05
or from the
assistance of the other."
00:39:19.09\00:39:20.69
And so yeah, even in spirit
of prophecy, strong advocate of,
00:39:20.72\00:39:25.03
you need to have, even in
a bigger church, small groups
00:39:25.06\00:39:27.83
that can nurture,
do home Bible studies,
00:39:27.86\00:39:30.10
and be part of a support team.
00:39:30.13\00:39:32.37
Jean: Well, that brings us to
our next section in the lesson.
00:39:32.40\00:39:34.70
It's entitled "New
Testament Small Groups."
00:39:34.74\00:39:37.17
And I think this is where it
really comes into sharp focus
00:39:37.21\00:39:40.34
the importance of small groups.
00:39:40.38\00:39:42.38
The first small
group, of course,
00:39:42.41\00:39:44.25
we find is Jesus
picking the 12 disciples.
00:39:44.28\00:39:46.72
Not only did he have
12 disciples, but you read
00:39:46.75\00:39:49.05
elsewhere in the
gospel there was a group of 70
00:39:49.08\00:39:51.25
that Jesus sent out
preaching and teaching.
00:39:51.29\00:39:53.46
But they were a larger group.
00:39:53.49\00:39:55.22
So he had the 12
disciples and then--even amongst
00:39:55.26\00:39:57.39
the 12 disciples, he had an
inner circle of Peter, James,
00:39:57.43\00:40:00.86
John, or even a
smaller group that got to share
00:40:00.90\00:40:03.63
some very special
experiences with Christ.
00:40:03.67\00:40:05.97
So right at the beginning
of the Christian church,
00:40:06.00\00:40:08.14
established by Christ, you
begin to see the importance
00:40:08.17\00:40:10.77
of organizing into
different smaller teams,
00:40:10.81\00:40:14.28
smaller groups in
doing the work of evangelism.
00:40:14.31\00:40:17.35
Doug: Yeah, in the
Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus,
00:40:17.38\00:40:19.35
he calls Peter, James,
John, "Come pray with me."
00:40:19.38\00:40:22.52
And Christ felt the need for his
support group, you might say.
00:40:22.55\00:40:26.29
And it's so important
that you have people who
00:40:26.32\00:40:29.32
are close to you that know you.
00:40:29.36\00:40:31.29
There should be people
that you can be honest with,
00:40:31.33\00:40:33.33
that there's accountability
and there's intimacy.
00:40:33.36\00:40:36.06
And we all need friends.
00:40:36.10\00:40:38.13
What does it say?
00:40:38.17\00:40:39.87
A threefold cord
cannot easily be broken.
00:40:39.90\00:40:42.87
Then you look at--all through
the New Testament, especially in
00:40:42.90\00:40:45.94
the Book of Acts says, "After
these things, Paul departed from
00:40:45.97\00:40:48.98
Athens and went to Corinth,
and he found a certain Jew named
00:40:49.01\00:40:52.15
Aquila, born in Pontus, who
had recently come from Italy
00:40:52.18\00:40:54.95
with his wife Priscilla,
because Claudius had commanded
00:40:54.98\00:40:57.72
all the Jews to depart
from Rome, and he came to them.
00:40:57.75\00:41:00.52
So it was they
were of the same trade.
00:41:00.56\00:41:02.76
He stayed with them and worked."
00:41:02.79\00:41:04.86
Now, that's something to
notice about a small group.
00:41:04.89\00:41:06.63
You got Paul, Priscilla, Aquila.
00:41:06.66\00:41:09.70
They had some things in common.
00:41:09.73\00:41:11.70
And so while they were so
intense, they could be giving
00:41:11.73\00:41:14.90
Bible studies and
supporting each other.
00:41:14.94\00:41:17.91
And then you also see here--you
might want to read Acts 20,
00:41:17.94\00:41:20.64
verses 1 through 3,
another sample of this.
00:41:20.68\00:41:22.74
Jean: Yes, it says, "And
there was an uproar that ceased.
00:41:22.78\00:41:24.71
Paul called
disciples to himself,
00:41:24.75\00:41:26.82
embraced them,
departed to Macedonia."
00:41:26.85\00:41:29.28
And so we find Paul calling
disciples or leaders together.
00:41:29.32\00:41:32.49
"Now when they had gone over
that region and encouraged them
00:41:32.52\00:41:35.16
with many words,
he came to Greece
00:41:35.19\00:41:36.96
and stayed there 3 months.
00:41:36.99\00:41:38.99
And when the Jews plotted
against him as he was about to
00:41:39.03\00:41:42.30
sail to Syria, he decided
to return through Macedonia."
00:41:42.33\00:41:45.93
So again, we find Paul
connecting with smaller groups
00:41:45.97\00:41:48.87
of believers on his missionary
endeavors as he traveled
00:41:48.90\00:41:51.97
throughout Asia Minor.
00:41:52.01\00:41:53.98
Doug: First thing Paul would
do, he'd go into a new community
00:41:54.01\00:41:55.98
and he would automatically go to
the synagogue, where there were
00:41:56.01\00:41:59.11
small groups of Jews
scattered all through the Greek
00:41:59.15\00:42:03.39
and the Roman Empires--
or Greek and Roman cities.
00:42:03.42\00:42:06.65
And he realized that, "This is
the places where I should go to
00:42:06.69\00:42:10.06
have a support group and also
a good place for evangelism."
00:42:10.09\00:42:14.30
And then you can also notice
how Luke in the Book of Acts,
00:42:14.30\00:42:16.90
he often mentions
Paul's co-workers.
00:42:16.93\00:42:19.77
In Acts 12, verse 11, "And when
Peter came to himself, he said,
00:42:19.80\00:42:24.51
'I know for certain the Lord has
sent His angel and has delivered
00:42:24.54\00:42:27.74
me from the hand of
Herod and all the expectation
00:42:27.78\00:42:30.41
of the Jewish people.
00:42:30.45\00:42:32.28
So when he considered this,
he came to the house of Mary,
00:42:32.31\00:42:35.22
the mother of John,
whose surname was Mark,
00:42:35.25\00:42:37.95
where many were
gathered together praying."
00:42:37.99\00:42:40.62
He knocks at the door.
00:42:40.66\00:42:42.49
A girl named
Rhoda comes to the door.
00:42:42.52\00:42:44.16
So you got Mary, John,
Mark, Rhoda, and it says that
00:42:44.19\00:42:47.10
the church was
gathered in this upper room.
00:42:47.13\00:42:49.80
Now, this is not necessarily
the same number you saw
00:42:49.83\00:42:52.60
at Pentecost where there's 120.
00:42:52.63\00:42:54.64
It may have been only 20.
00:42:54.67\00:42:56.57
And so he--as soon as he
was delivered from prison,
00:42:56.60\00:42:59.64
he realized, "I
need a support group."
00:42:59.67\00:43:01.64
First thing he did, he said,
"I've got to go find the church.
00:43:01.68\00:43:04.05
I got to find where they're
gathered together praying."
00:43:04.08\00:43:06.61
It wasn't a Sabbath
morning necessarily.
00:43:06.65\00:43:10.59
They just went to where they
were gathered in God's name.
00:43:10.62\00:43:13.92
Jean: And you know, there's
three things that we find almost
00:43:13.96\00:43:16.06
in every small
group that we discover
00:43:16.09\00:43:17.96
in the New
Testament, especially.
00:43:17.99\00:43:19.76
Three things they did.
00:43:19.79\00:43:21.26
They prayed together,
they studied together,
00:43:21.30\00:43:25.13
and they ate together,
which is kind of interesting.
00:43:25.17\00:43:28.04
You've got that social element.
00:43:28.07\00:43:29.94
It talks about how they
broke bread from house to house
00:43:29.97\00:43:32.14
and rejoiced and prayed
and studied and did evangelism.
00:43:32.17\00:43:35.64
So we don't want to neglect
that social aspect of a group
00:43:35.68\00:43:39.01
of people connecting.
00:43:39.05\00:43:40.82
The most effective evangelists
are evangelists that are working
00:43:40.85\00:43:44.69
together; they are
friends, they love one another,
00:43:44.72\00:43:47.76
they are connected,
they have the same call,
00:43:47.79\00:43:49.76
they know each other,
they know their strengths,
00:43:49.79\00:43:51.76
they know their weaknesses.
00:43:51.79\00:43:53.66
And so when it comes to
a small group in the church
00:43:53.70\00:43:55.53
to be effective, it requires
us spending some time getting
00:43:55.56\00:43:58.23
to know people, praying with
them, fellowshipping with them,
00:43:58.27\00:44:01.50
and that makes the
most effective team.
00:44:01.54\00:44:03.67
Doug: Yeah, you know,
probably the most effective
00:44:03.71\00:44:05.77
small group is the group that
has a good cook in the group.
00:44:05.81\00:44:10.01
Jean: Everybody wants to go
to those small group meetings.
00:44:10.05\00:44:13.65
Absolutely, now,
this kind of leads
00:44:13.68\00:44:16.05
us to our next section talking
about small group dynamics.
00:44:16.08\00:44:19.25
But Pastor Doug, just before we
go there, a question has come in
00:44:19.29\00:44:22.46
it that says,
"What is self-denial?
00:44:22.49\00:44:25.29
How can you give an example of
giving up one's own will to God?
00:44:25.33\00:44:29.50
What is self-denial?"
00:44:29.53\00:44:31.60
Doug: I think when it talks
about taking up our cross and
00:44:31.63\00:44:33.64
denying our self, anytime we
know something is out of God's
00:44:33.67\00:44:38.27
will, though we may want
it--when we deny ourselves what
00:44:38.31\00:44:42.74
it is that we may want, whether
it's something you want to say
00:44:42.78\00:44:46.21
that might glorify yourself and
you hold your tongue because you
00:44:46.25\00:44:48.48
think, "That won't glorify
God," that's self-denial.
00:44:48.52\00:44:51.22
If it's that extra cookie after
dinner, we just talked about
00:44:51.25\00:44:54.62
cooking, and you
think, "I've had enough,"
00:44:54.66\00:44:56.62
and it's board--it's going from
satisfaction to gluttony now,
00:44:56.66\00:44:59.69
you say no, that's self-denial.
00:44:59.73\00:45:02.93
Saying, "Oh, I can take that job
and it would pay so much better,
00:45:02.96\00:45:05.73
but I'd have to
break the Sabbath
00:45:05.77\00:45:07.84
or I wouldn't have
enough time with my family,"
00:45:07.87\00:45:09.57
and you say no
even though you want it.
00:45:09.60\00:45:11.64
So whenever you deny yourself
anything for the sake of being
00:45:11.67\00:45:15.34
a Christian, for serving
Christ, that's self-denial.
00:45:15.38\00:45:18.25
When you get up at night when
you're tired and you go visit
00:45:18.28\00:45:21.05
a friend who's struggling
'cause they need prayer
00:45:21.08\00:45:23.18
and you really would rather
stay in bed, that's self-denial.
00:45:23.22\00:45:27.26
Jean: You know, I've been
reading some great testimonies
00:45:27.29\00:45:29.39
and stories of early
missionaries not only of our
00:45:29.42\00:45:33.86
denomination, but early
Protestant missionaries that
00:45:33.90\00:45:37.17
were truly self-sacrificing;
where they would say farewell
00:45:37.20\00:45:41.30
to their family, good chance
of never seeing them again,
00:45:41.34\00:45:45.01
and they would travel to places
they had never been before,
00:45:45.04\00:45:48.34
very primitive conditions.
00:45:48.38\00:45:50.48
They could have stayed home,
lived a much more comfortable
00:45:50.51\00:45:53.05
life, but they denied themselves
so that somebody else can hear
00:45:53.08\00:45:56.22
the gospel and have an
opportunity to be saved.
00:45:56.25\00:45:58.55
So there's an
aspect of self-denial.
00:45:58.59\00:46:00.49
Now, we might not be called
to go to some distant land
00:46:00.52\00:46:02.62
to preach the gospel,
but sometimes we got to deny
00:46:02.66\00:46:05.49
our self to get involved
in evangelism at the church.
00:46:05.53\00:46:08.46
You know, driving out an
evangelistic series every night.
00:46:08.50\00:46:11.70
Well, we've heard these
messages before, but, you know,
00:46:11.73\00:46:14.67
that's part of self-denial,
by doing your part to reach
00:46:14.70\00:46:17.77
somebody else with the gospel.
00:46:17.81\00:46:19.77
Doug: Yeah, you know,
before we run out of time--
00:46:19.81\00:46:21.71
I see we've just
got a few minutes left.
00:46:21.74\00:46:23.71
We can back up to
section five there.
00:46:23.75\00:46:26.38
I just want to talk about
what are some of the reasons
00:46:26.41\00:46:29.38
that we need small groups.
00:46:29.42\00:46:31.39
And I borrowed some of this,
I'll admit, from online because
00:46:31.42\00:46:34.19
the principles are truth--are
true in any church denomination.
00:46:34.22\00:46:38.33
They all flourish when
they use the small groups.
00:46:38.36\00:46:41.63
Personal growth is one.
00:46:41.66\00:46:44.13
You grow personally.
00:46:44.17\00:46:46.10
When you're in another group,
you're getting new information,
00:46:46.13\00:46:47.94
you're studying new subjects.
00:46:47.97\00:46:49.74
When you're by yourself,
you might come up with some
00:46:49.77\00:46:51.74
eccentric ideas; but as you
bounce those off other people,
00:46:51.77\00:46:55.28
it guides and it shapes and it
helps form you to have a healthy
00:46:55.31\00:46:59.68
character and healthy theology.
00:46:59.71\00:47:02.78
Another reason is smaller
communities are more cohesive.
00:47:02.82\00:47:07.96
It's important for
us-- in a big church,
00:47:07.99\00:47:10.53
you can kind of get lost.
00:47:10.56\00:47:12.49
People slip in the back.
00:47:12.53\00:47:14.30
They slip out and you
don't have the accountability,
00:47:14.36\00:47:16.87
and it's not very cohesive.
00:47:16.90\00:47:19.13
You're not
connecting with other people.
00:47:19.17\00:47:21.40
So that's another
very important reason.
00:47:21.44\00:47:23.47
Deeper friendships.
00:47:23.51\00:47:25.57
In a big church, you
can have acquaintances.
00:47:25.61\00:47:27.68
I've got
millions of acquaintances.
00:47:27.71\00:47:29.41
Maybe not
millions, but thousands.
00:47:29.44\00:47:31.05
People--I know
them. I shake their hands.
00:47:31.08\00:47:32.51
"Hi, how are you doing?"
00:47:32.55\00:47:33.98
Slap each other on the
back. There's no intimacy there.
00:47:34.02\00:47:36.02
It's not a real
friend, it's an acquaintance.
00:47:36.05\00:47:38.62
You know, in the
church, you need people
00:47:38.65\00:47:40.52
that you're intimate with.
00:47:40.56\00:47:42.32
And then the fourth part
is maximum participation.
00:47:42.36\00:47:46.56
It is so much easier to
mobilize people if you know who
00:47:46.59\00:47:49.33
the people are, you
know what their gifts are.
00:47:49.36\00:47:51.17
And group leaders know who
the people are in their group
00:47:51.20\00:47:55.27
that have the different gifts.
00:47:55.30\00:47:56.91
And so you get your maximum
participation in a church when
00:47:56.94\00:47:59.87
you say, "Okay, we're going to
have our mission planning group
00:47:59.91\00:48:02.31
take charge of this project."
00:48:02.34\00:48:04.01
You've got your gifted people.
00:48:04.05\00:48:05.65
They do it.
00:48:05.68\00:48:07.45
Our children's ministry
group or whatever it is,
00:48:07.48\00:48:09.38
they're formed into
trained groups like an army.
00:48:09.42\00:48:12.52
Jean: We just encourage
wherever you are, whatever
00:48:12.55\00:48:14.26
church you might be
involved with, get involved
00:48:14.29\00:48:17.19
in a small group.
00:48:17.23\00:48:18.63
If you don't have a small group,
well, it's a good opportunity
00:48:18.66\00:48:20.53
to try and organize
and start a small group.
00:48:20.56\00:48:22.96
And again, not only is it
for inreach, for fellowship,
00:48:23.00\00:48:25.53
which is important, but
the goal of every small group
00:48:25.57\00:48:28.17
should be outreach
focus, reaching out to others,
00:48:28.20\00:48:31.41
sharing the gospel with them.
00:48:31.44\00:48:33.14
So a small group is an
important part not only
00:48:33.17\00:48:36.21
for a healthy church but
for a healthy individual,
00:48:36.24\00:48:38.81
for a healthy Christian.
00:48:38.85\00:48:40.72
We would like to just remind
those of you who are joining us
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about our free offer that
we have today, a book entitled
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Ask for offer 124, or you
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00:49:06.17\00:49:14.42
Doug: Also, Pastor
Ross, before we say goodbye
00:49:14.45\00:49:16.22
for today's lesson, I want
to remind everybody something
00:49:16.25\00:49:18.55
we mentioned earlier.
00:49:18.59\00:49:20.32
Very important event coming, a
major international evangelistic
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Amazing Facts and 3ABN called
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Going to be a
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Go to the
website, revelationnow.com.
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Join us. Register.
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You'll get all the information
on how you and your church
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or your small group can
participate in reaching souls.
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male announcer: Don't
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00:50:54.85\00:50:56.79
than I was used to.
00:50:56.82\00:50:58.59
Someone kept giving me alcoholic
drinks, and being 115 pounds
00:50:58.62\00:51:03.22
and 14 years old it
really didn't take much time
00:51:03.26\00:51:05.99
before I was so inebriated
that I had no control over
00:51:06.03\00:51:10.10
what was going on around me.
00:51:10.13\00:51:12.17
He took me to another
location, another town,
00:51:12.20\00:51:15.50
and I was put in isolation.
00:51:15.54\00:51:17.47
I would come out to
be abused between three
00:51:17.51\00:51:19.81
and eight times a day.
00:51:19.84\00:51:21.68
I was degraded.
I was humiliated.
00:51:21.71\00:51:23.81
I had no value as a human being,
and I learned very quickly that
00:51:23.85\00:51:28.28
what I felt and what I
thought and how this made me
00:51:28.32\00:51:31.49
feel did not
matter to him at all.
00:51:31.52\00:51:33.89
If I even thought about not
doing what he wanted me to do,
00:51:33.92\00:51:39.09
I would have a gun to my
head, a knife to my throat.
00:51:39.13\00:51:44.47
There was one time in particular
where he had been tormenting me
00:51:44.50\00:51:50.64
psychologically,
and one day he said,
00:51:50.67\00:51:53.11
"Oh, you'll never kill yourself.
00:51:53.14\00:51:55.21
You'll never do it."
00:51:55.24\00:51:57.45
And almost defiantly I
would say, "I guess I will."
00:51:57.48\00:52:00.32
And he handed me a
big old handful of pills
00:52:00.35\00:52:02.52
and I took them.
00:52:02.55\00:52:04.39
While I was overdosing, and I
had been overdosing all night,
00:52:04.42\00:52:07.19
I cried out to a God
that I didn't even believe in.
00:52:07.22\00:52:10.43
And at that very moment, in the
most powerful way, God shone his
00:52:10.46\00:52:14.23
light on me and he gave me peace
of mind like I never had and he
00:52:14.30\00:52:19.87
let me know right then and there
while I was on that bathroom
00:52:19.90\00:52:22.84
floor that he was
real and that he was love.
00:52:22.87\00:52:25.81
And that I did not
know how at that time,
00:52:25.84\00:52:27.94
but he was going to help me.
00:52:27.98\00:52:29.94
A little less than a year
later, I became pregnant at 15.
00:52:29.98\00:52:33.75
I loved my son
with my whole heart.
00:52:33.78\00:52:36.08
He also became something that
my abuser could use against me
00:52:36.12\00:52:39.49
in order to pump
more fear and coercion.
00:52:39.52\00:52:44.79
I had finally got away from my
abuser and I had finally built
00:52:44.83\00:52:48.86
up a support system to
help me stay on the move
00:52:48.90\00:52:51.30
and stay on the run.
00:52:51.33\00:52:53.23
And I was at my
grandmother's house,
00:52:53.27\00:52:55.20
and on my son's third
birthday he took my son.
00:52:55.24\00:53:02.91
And when I
called the police, said,
00:53:02.94\00:53:04.61
"My son's just been kidnapped,"
they said, "He's the father.
00:53:04.65\00:53:06.48
We can't do anything about it."
00:53:06.51\00:53:08.85
After my son was
gone, I lost my mind.
00:53:08.88\00:53:11.92
I started doing drugs.
00:53:11.95\00:53:13.79
And within a
month of it and a half,
00:53:13.82\00:53:15.52
I robbed a convenience store.
00:53:15.56\00:53:17.26
So I was sentenced to 70 months;
5 years, 10 months in prison,
00:53:17.29\00:53:22.30
and it was the best
thing that ever happened to me.
00:53:22.33\00:53:26.33
I started attending the
church services in prison
00:53:27.34\00:53:30.27
7 days a week.
00:53:30.31\00:53:32.01
It blew my mind. I was hooked.
00:53:32.04\00:53:34.88
And then we went through--it
was "Millennium of Prophecy"
00:53:34.91\00:53:38.88
and "Net '99" that
just solidified my faith
00:53:38.91\00:53:43.89
in such a powerful
way, and I knew God--
00:53:43.92\00:53:46.82
that God was leading me.
00:53:46.86\00:53:48.82
Even the guards there commented
on how much I had changed.
00:53:48.86\00:53:52.96
And since I started doing
the studies on Amazing Facts,
00:53:52.99\00:53:56.67
I was so excited
about what I was learning
00:53:56.70\00:53:58.67
that I was
coming back from there
00:53:58.70\00:54:01.00
and trying to convert my
hardened criminal friends
00:54:01.04\00:54:04.81
with the circles of prophecy.
00:54:04.84\00:54:06.84
Every question I ever had, every
worry, everything that I ever
00:54:06.88\00:54:11.18
wondered about--the
Bible answered everything, and
00:54:11.21\00:54:14.62
it was so clear and
so easy to understand.
00:54:14.65\00:54:18.19
It's been 11 years
since I've been out of prison.
00:54:18.22\00:54:20.72
I am married to an
amazing, wonderful man; my first
00:54:20.76\00:54:24.39
non-abusive relationship
in my whole entire life.
00:54:24.43\00:54:27.36
Before we got
married, we watched
00:54:27.40\00:54:29.06
the "Millennium of
Prophecy" series together,
00:54:29.10\00:54:31.97
and it was just such
a blessing to be able
00:54:32.00\00:54:35.40
to see him learn
and see him grow.
00:54:35.44\00:54:39.21
And I feel like my life now is
just a gift, that every single
00:54:39.24\00:54:42.71
thing that happened to me bad
in the past is nothing compared
00:54:42.74\00:54:46.35
to the joy and the happiness and
the stability that I have now.
00:54:46.38\00:54:52.02
My name is Christine Fenonder,
and my life has been changed by
00:54:52.05\00:54:55.92
Jesus Christ and Amazing Facts.
00:54:55.96\00:54:58.76
¤¤¤
00:54:58.79\00:55:04.83
¤¤¤
00:55:06.43\00:55:16.41
Doug: Today's smartphones
are a virtual universe of
00:55:16.44\00:55:18.58
information that fits
in the palm of your hand.
00:55:18.61\00:55:21.42
It's good thing we
have opposable thumbs.
00:55:21.45\00:55:23.59
With it, you can
buy your groceries,
00:55:23.62\00:55:26.52
take care of
your exercise regime,
00:55:26.55\00:55:28.92
watch a video, listen to music.
00:55:28.96\00:55:31.16
You can surf the
international World Wide Web,
00:55:31.19\00:55:33.76
which may not
always be a good thing.
00:55:33.80\00:55:36.16
And you know, there is more
computer processing technology
00:55:36.20\00:55:39.37
and power in a little smartphone
today than was used by NASA
00:55:39.40\00:55:43.54
to put a man on the moon.
00:55:43.57\00:55:45.47
And I almost forgot.
00:55:45.51\00:55:47.24
You can also use
these to make a phone call,
00:55:47.28\00:55:49.21
but who does that anymore?
00:55:49.24\00:55:50.88
Today communication is
not in complete sentences,
00:55:50.91\00:55:53.25
it's all about short message
servicing or SMS texting.
00:55:53.28\00:55:58.45
That's right.
00:55:58.49\00:56:00.36
There are about 2.5 billion
people in the world today that
00:56:00.39\00:56:02.99
are communicating
with their fellow humans
00:56:03.02\00:56:05.13
in short bytes called texting.
00:56:05.16\00:56:07.40
That's more data that
is being used than those
00:56:07.40\00:56:10.20
who are surfing the web
or even playing video games.
00:56:10.23\00:56:12.57
And friends, nowhere is
this more true than right here
00:56:12.60\00:56:15.04
in the Philippines.
00:56:15.07\00:56:16.74
Even though the Philippines
has about 100 million people,
00:56:16.77\00:56:19.27
they are responsible
for the largest number
00:56:19.31\00:56:21.51
of text messages of
anywhere in the world.
00:56:21.54\00:56:24.25
They're the
12th largest country,
00:56:24.28\00:56:26.38
but they send 400
million text messages every day.
00:56:26.41\00:56:31.05
Wow, that's a lot
of finger fatigue.
00:56:31.09\00:56:34.22
Even though the greatest
number of texters is here in the
00:56:34.26\00:56:36.52
Philippines, the record for the
fastest texter in the world is
00:56:36.56\00:56:39.73
from Brazil; a young man by the
name of Marcel Fernandez Filho.
00:56:39.76\00:56:43.67
He was able to text
25 very complicated words
00:56:43.70\00:56:46.67
in a little
more than 18 seconds.
00:56:46.70\00:56:48.94
Wow, it takes
me longer than that
00:56:48.97\00:56:51.17
to just say I love you
to my wife and press send.
00:56:51.21\00:56:54.21
All thumbs.
00:56:54.24\00:56:56.58
One of the neat things
about texting is you can text
00:56:56.61\00:56:58.58
just about anywhere.
00:56:58.61\00:57:00.45
If you're surrounded with
people and you want to send
00:57:00.48\00:57:02.05
a personal message, you text.
00:57:02.08\00:57:03.79
You're in a crowded subway
or an airport, you can text.
00:57:03.82\00:57:06.25
If you're surrounded by noise
or nosy people, you can text.
00:57:06.29\00:57:10.29
Just don't text
while you're driving.
00:57:10.33\00:57:12.66
That's what's so
wonderful, friends.
00:57:12.69\00:57:14.46
You can always text
God a message of prayer
00:57:14.50\00:57:16.73
from your heart.
00:57:16.77\00:57:18.57
When you're wondering,
"What school do I go to?
00:57:18.60\00:57:20.30
What job do I take?
00:57:20.34\00:57:22.00
Who am I supposed to date that
may be a future life partner?"
00:57:22.04\00:57:24.37
Your prayers
don't have to be long.
00:57:24.41\00:57:26.34
The shortest prayer in
the Bible is three words:
00:57:26.37\00:57:28.48
when Peter
prayed, "Lord, save me."
00:57:28.51\00:57:31.01
Jesus answered his prayer.
00:57:31.05\00:57:32.95
And it doesn't
matter how fast you can text
00:57:32.98\00:57:34.88
when you're talking to God.
00:57:34.92\00:57:36.75
He'll know what you're asking
for and hear your prayer before
00:57:36.79\00:57:39.02
you have a chance to say
amen and press the send button.
00:57:39.05\00:57:41.82
In fact, friends, you'll bring
joy to God when you send Him
00:57:41.86\00:57:44.63
regular messages
from your heart to His.
00:57:44.66\00:57:47.76
So why don't you
talk to Him right now?
00:57:47.76\00:57:51.47
¤¤¤
00:57:51.50\00:57:59.17
¤¤¤
00:58:00.41\00:58:10.39
¤¤¤
00:58:10.42\00:58:20.40
¤¤¤
00:58:20.43\00:58:29.84