Passion - Lifetogether

Transcription

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Passion
Secrets of a Vibrant Life
Phil Munsey
LIFE CHURCH - Irvine, California
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Copyright 2011
Copyright © for ”Passion: Secrets to a Vibrant Life” is owned by Phil Munsey and
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Permission for use is given to Life Church in all forms of distribution.
Dedication - Frank Munsey
Foreword by Joel Osteen
Endorsements
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
OUTLINE FOR EACH SESSION
INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, and 1984 by International
SESSION ONE – Passion: The Secrets of a Vibrant Life
SESSION TWO – Commitment: The Pathway to Your Dreams
SESSION THREE – Attitude: The Force That Overcomes Your Circumstances
SESSION FOUR – Evaluation: The Beginning of Any Good Thing
SESSION FIVE – Uniqueness: The Gift God Wants You to Embrace
SESSION SIX – Team: The Power to Become the Best You Can Be
SESSION SEVEN – Character: The Strength to Stand for what Really Matters
Lifesource Ministries.
Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman.
Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishing House. All rights
reserved.
Scripture quotations noted (NLT) are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING
TRANSLATION®. Copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc, Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations noted (ESV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH
APPENDIX
Daily Devotional Readings
30-Day Bible Reading Plan
STANDARD VERSION®. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry
of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Graphic Design by Tommy Owen
Photograhy by Scott Tokar and Rachel Antoun
Production by Jeremy Gant
SMALL GROUP LEADERS
Hosting an Open House
Leading for the First Time
Leadership Training
GROUP RESOURCES
Small Group Agreement
Small Group Calendar
Prayer and Praise Report
Small Group Roster
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phil Munsey Biography
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In Loving Dedication to Frank Munsey
Loving Husband, Father, Friend and faithful Soldier for the Kingdom
August 11, 1930 -- February 5, 2011
FOREWORD
Frank Munsey is the father of Pastor Phil Munsey, lovingly passed from this life to eternity
on February 5, 2011 surrounded by his family at his bedside. The husband of Ruth and
father to Steve, Joe, Phillip and Sheila, Frank
Munsey was a fighter until the end.
“Staying passionate about life is key to embracing God’s best life for you
now! In this insightful series by my friend Phil Munsey, entitled Passion:
Secrets to a Vibrant Life, you’ll be greatly blessed by discovering these
secrets to living a more dynamic life.
Frank could lovingly be remembered as the
mayor of anyplace he went. Whether a restaurant, grocery story, business and of course
church, Frank would make the rounds in
shaking hands, greeting people with a loving
word and always sharing the love of Christ.
He was a stranger to no one and a lover of
anyone he met.
He grew up attending church with his mother
in Oklahoma. It’s there where his dream of
becoming pastor began. With that dream in
his heart and “never give up” attitude Frank
met his beautiful wife Ruth and started the
Evangelist Temple Church in Hammond, Indiana.
Frank was always known for welcoming ministers and missionaries into his church and
home. His spirit of generosity and strong
leadership earned him a great reputation inside and outside of his denomination. After
30 years of being a senior pastor Frank and
Ruth placed the leadership of the church into
the hands of their eldest son Steve. But by no
means did he retire. In fact, after giving the church to their son, he started a new work
oversees in the country of Bulgaria. Seeing the torn apart country by Communism Frank
and Ruth dedicated themselves to that country and built a Christian school.
Now with over 300 students from different countries and religious backgrounds the American English Academy is one of the top rated schools in Bulgaria. He believed that education and God went hand in hand and knew that it could change the country. Just last year
they purchased a 50,000 sq. foot building to expand and paid cash for it. His last trip to
Bulgaria was in December just a month before his death.
Phil and Jeannie Munsey have been our close friends for over 10 years.
When we first met, Victoria and I knew it was a relationship of destiny.
They became not only our friends, but advisers, as we began our adventure
as pastors of Lakewood. With their experience as
pastors and connections with so many other great leaders, our relationship
became vital to our ministry. Just as we have learned from and been
inspired by Phil’s ability to bring fresh understanding to God’s Word, we
believe you will too.
In and throughout this series Phil will help you discover a more joyful,
fulfilling and energized life, building on the eternal truths of the Word of
God as found in Romans 12. In addition, you’ll hear several encouraging
testimonies, and be uplifted by Jeannie Munsey’s inspiring worship.
I encourage you to gather with your friends or group and to use this series
to find fresh and creative possibilities for your own life and community. I
believe God has put seeds of greatness in you that are just
waiting to unfold and blossom in new and exciting ways. I also believe
that God wants you to live an abundant life, enriched with purpose, a life
beyond your wildest dreams...
and passion will pave the way
forward. I know your life will
never be the same! God bless
you.”
Frank Munsey will be remembered for his tenacious spirit and determination. He was
funny man that would leave you a message saying it was urgent, then when you would
call he would joke that it was the only way you would call him back.
Great man, great legacy.
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ENDORSEMENTS
“Phil Munsey is a godly man, a great
pastor, and a dear friend. His life has
impacted our community and me
personally.”
- Rick Warren, Senior Pastor, Saddleback
Church
“Phil Munsey is a brilliant pastor and a good friend to my family and to me.”
- Dodie Osteen, Cofounder, Lakewood Church
“I am honored to call Phil Munsey a friend. His life and ministry have
advanced the kingdom of God in tremendous ways. Phil is the real deal. He
lives what he writes, teaches, and preaches, just as Jesus did.”
- Dr. Walt Kallestad, Senior Pastor, Community Church of Joy
“Phil is one of our greatest friends in all the world. Full of passion and driven to
reach the lost, he is a rare gift to the kingdom of God.”
- Matthew Barnett, Cofounder of Dream Center Los Angeles
“Phil Munsey and I serve on the board of a major national ministry. Phil stays
on the cutting edge of today’s world.”
- John H Moon Sr. President, Moon Credit Corp.
“I have known Phil Munsey for many years, and I am always amazed
at the delivery of each subject he teaches with both life experience and
divine revelation. I am always inspired by his unique, God-given ability to
communicate old ideas and ideals with fresh insight.”
- David T. Demola, Pastor, Faith Fellowship Ministries
“Phil Munsey is, in my opinion, one of “God’s generals.” He has not only a
heart for the lost but also compassion and love for youth.”
- Don Colbert, MD, Author, Toxic Relief and the Seven Pillars of Health
“Phil Munsey has the unique ability to encourage and challenge, entertain
and educate, make us laugh and cry - all at the same time! He is one of the
most creative thinkers I know - often reexamining long-held notions and
assumptions.”
- Dr. Jim Reeve, Senior Pastor, Faith Community Church
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Jeannie Munsey: To my husband
Phil, our family, our team, its been
an amazing journey thus far and I
sincerely look forward to the days
ahead. May God continue to grant
us grace and favor as we serve him
together.
Phil Munsey: I’d like to thank my
wife, Jeannie, and the rest of my
family for their love, patience and
support in standing 25+ excellent
years as a church together. I eagerly
look forward to what’s next. To
all my friends who have helped
make this possible, thank you! Your
sacrifice will forever be embedded
in the fabric of who we are.
Special Thanks to Life Church
members, both near and far, for
always believing in us as your
pastors and co-laborers in the
field of ministry. May the many
contributions you’ve made into our
lives and our church through your
time, talent and treasure be truly
honored and blessed by God.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Passion!
The videos have been recorded, the lessons have been written, and some
amazing people have offered their stories—now we need YOU! We need
your Passion.
Let me tell you here right at the start—the Passion is already in you. God
put it there. If you haven’t found it yet, I hope this series of sessions will
help you unleash the Passion that I know is in you to meet the purposes
God has in mind.
Everyone longs to live a life of Passion. We don’t always call it Passion, but
the desires to “find meaning” or to “make a difference” are just other ways
of saying, “I want to live a vibrant, passionate life!” That is definitely a life
you can live. You can start now. What do you think Jesus meant when he
said, “I have come that you might have
life—abundant life?” He was talking
about Passion!
Don’t go alone on this adventure to
discover passion. Pick up the phone
and call a couple of people to join
you. Tell them what you’re doing and
that you would love to have them
along for the ride!
As I sit here praying over these
materials, I find it hard to imagine
what an amazing tidal wave of Passion
could be unleashed in your life and
in other lives as you meet together.
But I know it can happen! Jesus said
he came to make it happen! That’s his
passion for you.
Passionately praying for you,
Phil Munsey
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OUTLINE OF EACH SESSION
Most people want to live a passionate spiritual life, but few achieve this by
themselves. And most small groups struggle to balance all of God’s purposes in their meetings. Groups tend to overemphasize one of the various
reasons for meeting. Rarely is there a healthy balance that includes teaching, evangelism, ministry, practical exercises, and worship. That’s why
we’ve included all of these elements in this study so you can live a healthy,
balanced spiritual life over time.
A typical group session for Passion will include the following:
STORY
The lessons we will learn during Passion are best illustrated in the lives of
real people. Each session will begin with a video summary of someone’s
story and the video presentation during the session will capture firsthand
that person telling their story.
LISTEN
As in Listen to God and Each Other’s Lives. The foundation for spiritual
growth is an intimate connection with God and his family. A few people
who really know you and who earn your trust provide a place to experience the life Jesus invites you to live. This section of each session typically
offers you two options. You can get to know your whole group by using the
icebreaker question(s), or you can check in with one or two group members—your spiritual partner(s)—for a deeper connection and encouragement in your spiritual journey.
DVD TEACHING SEGMENT
Serving as a companion to the Passion small group discussion book is the
Passion Video teaching. This DVD is designed to combine teaching segments from Pastor Phil along with leadership insights and personal stories
of life change. Helping moderate the Passion DVD curriculum is []. Using
the teaching video will add value to this 7 week commitment of doing
life together and discovering our passion pulse and making sure it’s in the
vibrant range.
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LEARN
As in Learn from God’s Word and Each Other. Here is where you come
face to face with Scripture. In core passages you’ll explore what the Bible
teaches about the topic of the study. The focus won’t be on accumulating
information but on how we should live in light of the Word of God. We
want to help you apply the Scriptures practically, creatively, and from your
heart as well as your head. At the end of the day, allowing the timeless
truths from God’s Word to transform our lives in Christ is our greatest aim.
LIVE
As in Live Out the Truth You Just Learned. Here is where James urging us
to “be doers of the Word, not just hearers” (James 1:22) comes into play.
Many people skip over this aspect of the Christian life because it’s scary,
relationally awkward, or simply too much work for their busy schedules.
But Jesus wanted all of his disciples to help outsiders connect with him, to
know him personally, and to carry out his commands. This doesn’t necessarily mean preaching on street corners. It could mean welcoming a few
newcomers into your group, hosting a short-term group in your home, or
walking through this study with a friend. In this study, you’ll have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living.
LOVE
As in Love the Lord Your God and Your Neighbor, Too. We have Jesus affirmation that every aspect of life can ultimately be measured as a way
of fulfilling one or both of the “bottom line” commandment: “The most
important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater
than these” (Mark 12:29–31 ESV). The group sessions will close with time
for personal response to God and group prayer, seeking to keep this crucial
commandment before us at all times.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
If you want to dig deeper into more Bible passages about the topic at hand,
we’ve provided additional passages and questions. Your group may choose
to do study homework ahead of each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. If you prefer not to do study homework, the Deepening section will provide you with plenty to discuss within the group. These options
allow individuals or the whole group to go deeper in their study, while still
accommodating those who can’t do homework or are new to your group.
These options allow individuals or the whole group to go deeper in their
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A P P EN D I X
study, while still accommodating those who can’t do homework or are new
to your group.
BIBLE STUDY NOTES
This section provides background notes on the Bible passage(s) you examine in the Deepening section. You may want to refer to these notes during
your group meeting or as a reference for those doing additional study.
DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Each week on the Daily Devotionals pages we provide scriptures to read
and reflect on between group meetings. We suggest you use this section
to seek God on your arm throughout the week. This time at home should
begin and end with prayer. Don’t get in a hurry; take enough time to hear
God’s direction.
WEEKLY MEMORY VERSES
For each session we have provided a Memory Verse that emphasizes an
important truth from the session. This is an optional exercise, but we believe that memorizing Scripture can be a vital part of filling our minds with
God’s will for our lives. We encourage you to give this important habit a
try.
SMALL GROUP HOST
Doug Bisel And Jason Chatham will serve as your personal small group
host throughout the series. He will open each session and proceed to
walk your group through each step of the study. After his opening remarks
your group will have a time to reconnect followed by a time to watch the
testimony and the teaching session by Phil Munsey. Then will come back
and launch your group into their final discussion. Whether you are a group
leader or member having
WORSHIP TOGETHER
Jeannie Munsey will serve as you home group worship leader. She has
produced a series of short worships sets depending on your song preference, time availability, worship style and familiarity with each of the songs.
Each song will be accompanied by the lyrics at the bottom of the page so
anyone could sing along even if they aren’t familiar with the songs.
SESSION
ONE
PASSION: SECRETS TO A VIBRANT LIFE
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This session introduces our theme for the seven
sessions and highlights why Passion is such a key
to understanding the way God has made us. Phil
closes with an overview of the six components of
the passionate life God wants to give us. There are
some very good reasons why followers of Jesus
can live significantly vibrant lives. We’re going
to find out what those reasons are so we can
enthusiastically pursue a life of Passion.
Sometimes, as Julie Prendez has discovered,
passion emerges from an unexpected challenge—
the daunting challenge of a grandchild struck and
then killed by a merciless disease. She knows that
passion, in one way or another is connected with
hope. Passion pushes at boundaries, limitations,
and obstacles—to create something new. And
genuine passion taps into something God has
planned that can make even Spinal Muscle
Atrophy a catalyst from which comes great good.
LISTEN
Whether your small group is brand new or an established gathering of
old friends, you’re starting something fresh with this study. You’re going
to connect with each other at a deeper level. As you’ll learn in the video
sessions, the picture here is that you’re all on a journey together. You’re also
going to think about life at its deepest level. God is going to be a subject
of conversation and a participant in the sessions. To get the most out of this
experience, it’s worth taking some time to check in with one another. It’s
time to listen...
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What brings you to this group today? If
you’re new, share what motivated you to
come. If you’ve been with these people
for a long time, what are you looking
forward to from these particular sessions?
It’s important for a small group to agree
on a set of shared values. On page [00]
you’ll find a sample agreement with
the values we’ve found most useful in
sustaining healthy, balanced groups. We
recommend that you choose one or two
values to emphasize during this study.
Choose ones that will take your group to
the next stage of intimacy and fruitfulness.
For new groups: You might want to focus on a
“Safe Environment.” If a group isn’t a safe place for
people to share themselves, nothing else
happens.
For established groups: We recommend that you
try “Rotating Leaders” during this study. People
grow so much when they have a chance to lead
just one group meeting! Using the small group
calendar on page 00, take a few minutes to decide
who will host and lead each meeting.
Get comfortable: Have each person introduce themselves by telling
the rest of the group the name of one character from a movie or book
that they would most like to join on a life changing adventure. Why
did you choose that person, and what adventure do you imagine
sharing with them?
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TEACHING
SESSION ONE: PASSION
This first video will
introduce our series and
explain some of the terms
and ideas to which we
will
return
frequently.
Use the open spaces to
track the key points in
Phil’s teaching. Note your
reactions, reflections, and
responses to the content,
recording places where
truth is intersecting with
your life.
Briefly write your reflections and responses to Julie’s Story:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Write down your notes and any personal applications to Phil
Munsey’s teaching:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
The God who made the world
and everything in it, being Lord
of heaven and earth, does not
live in temples made by man, nor
is he served by human hands,
as though he needed anything,
since he himself gives to all
mankind life and breath and
everything. And he made from
one man every nation of mankind
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
to live on all the face of the earth, having
determined allotted periods and the
boundaries of their dwelling place, that
they should seek God, in the hope that
they might feel their way toward him
and find him. Yet he is actually not far
from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we
live and move and have our being’; as
even some of your own poets have said,
“ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being
then God’s offspring, we ought not to
think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by
the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but
now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a
day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he
has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from
the dead.” (Acts 17:24–31 ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your
spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)
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LEARN
Use the following questions to consider the teaching video as well as to
further explore the Bible background of the theme—Passion.
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How did Julie Quintez discover her passion? What other people
do you know whose passion is easy to identify?
Reflecting on Phil’s presentation, what do you find most intriguing
about a life of passion? In what ways have you already experienced
what you could describe as a hint of passion or clues to passion
in your own life?
Have someone read the quotation from Acts 17 in the Bible that’s
been printed in the section above (or read it from their own Bible).
If you were in the audience that day, what would you take away
from Paul comments?
How does Paul not only describe but
illustrate the passionate life?
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Comment on this statement: What bothers you and has brought
you pain also holds the vital signs that connect with purpose/
passion. How does difficulty point us or drive us toward passion?
(Refer back to Julie Quintez’ extremely painful experience)
Which of the following views of life
do you hold and why?
a. Life is what happens to you.
b. Life works for you.
How do you respond to Phil’s assertion that God wouldn’t give you
a passion if he didn’t also give you
the gift to match it?
DEEPER
STUDY
Use the following passage is you have extra time, or if the group desires to
delve at greater length into the theme for this session.
Phil offered two key questions for
discovering passion. Talk about what each
one of these questions means to you.
a. What make you tick?
b. What makes you ticked?
Phil also referred to Psalm 37:4—“Delight
yourself in the LORD and he will give
you the desires of your heart” (NIV). How
would you equate passion with having the
desires of your heart?
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Ex o dus 3 : 1 – 1 2
o
You might say that Moses spent 40 years in the desert learning how
to lead sheep around so he would be ready to lead a nation around
the same desert for the next 40 years! So, what do you think was his
passion?
o
God could have gotten Moses’ attention any number of ways. Why
do you think he chose a burning bush?
o
People talk about “burn-out” but that’s not what passion is about.
How does the unquenchable burning bush talk to you about passion?
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Acts 17:24–31
o
How did Paul know what to say to the
Athenians? Check the context.
o
In what ways would you say Paul tried
to convey to his audience that he was
introducing them to a passionate God?
o
What is it about the bodily resurrection
of Jesus Christ that puts the Gospel in a
different category from every other message?
P s a lm 1 : 1 – 6
o
Where do you see passion lived out in
these verses?
o
What must a godly passionate person
avoid in life?
o
How do we avoid the effect without necessarily avoiding the
people?
LIVE
Ultimately, passion in our lives will involve action, outflow, application, and
obedience. That’s why “therefore” is a crucial trigger-word in a letter like Romans. It alerts us to the shift from explanation to application. It invites us to
face the facts. If what we’ve just read is really true, then the way we live will
have to be affected by those truths. In this case, if we have a new identity in
Christ, then we have to develop a lifestyle that matches that identity. That’s
what we will look at in the five sessions to come. Here we want to settle into
our identity in Christ. The Christian life is a mindset as well as a lifestyle.
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What your solution to the humorous observation that “the only
problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the
altar?”
Is there any part of your life that is not affected by your passion
to live for God? What would it take for that surrender to take
place?
LOVE
Sharing our experience of Christ with outsiders is another of his essential life purposes. One of the clearest ways we love
God is by actively loving others for God’s
sake. Loving them for our sake is always
limited; loving them for God’s sake will
tend to stretch us quite a bit farther. We
want to be people who passionately apply
the Great Commandment— we don’t try to
separate Loving God and Loving Neighbor,
but realize that if we really love God, we
will love our neighbor. God’s Word is stunningly explicit: “We love because he first
loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet
hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone
who does not love his brother, whom he
has seen, cannot love God, whom he has
not seen” (1 John 4:19–20).
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How do you respond to the idea that a sacrificial life like the one
urged in Romans 12:1 is the essence of a passionate lifestyle?
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If you have a new life in
Christ, you have two kinds of
neighbors: those who share
that new life and those who
are still dead in sin. What does
passionate, Christ like love
demand that you do for each
kind of neighbor?
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Most of us need help in developing the notice factor when it
comes to our neighbors. We easily fall into self-centered living.
What is your plan to intentionally respond to those people who
most clearly fit in the category of neighbors in your life? Note
below the Circles of Influence illustration that you can use to
think about the various relationships that God wants to use you
to be channel of his grace. Who are the key people in each of
those circles?
Here are several practical steps you can take to start identifying
passion in your life.
DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
Below are listed some key Bible passages that will supplement the scriptures in the session along with brief devotionals that will help you meditate
on God’s Word. Some of these will review passages mentioned in the session and some will expand your Biblical awareness of the themes.
Day 1 – Romans 12:1 | Therefore
STUDY NOTES
Reflection Question: Why does Paul start out this chapter with “therefore”?
What’s he referring to?
_______________________________________________________________
These notes relate to some of the phrases in the main Bible passages for
this lesson, giving some background or possible explanations:
_______________________________________________________________
By the mercies of God (Romans 12:1).
_______________________________________________________________
To bless means to speak or deliver good into someone else’s life. Through
Christ God delivered into our lives the maximum good He could give us.
Your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:2).
This phrase is a chilling reminder that we are as-good-as-dead apart from
Christ. It is grace, applying Christ’s sacrifice to our debt or offense that
brings us to life. Sin isn’t just a small set-back or an insignificant human
handicap; sin is the terminal disease with which we are all infected. Without God’s grace we have no hope.
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Day 2 – Romans 12:1 | Mercy Motivation
Reflection Question: What is it about God’s mercy that would drive us to
place our lives in God’s hands?
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Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to
us (Romans 12:6).
The moment we trust in Christ we are not physically transported into eternity, but we might as well be. The great thing about grace is that sin had
sealed our fate in death but God in Christ graciously shattered that seal and
replaced it with the seal of hope and a future with Christ.
Day 3 – Romans 12:1 | Passion
Reflection Question: What single word in this verse is most connected with
Passion for you? Why?
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Day 4 – Romans 12:2 | The Big Squeeze
Reflection Question: Are we “fitting in” to the world or is the world trying
to shove us in a mold?
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_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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Day 5 – Romans 12:2 | Mind Games
Reflection Question: What do you think it would be like to have the mind
of Christ?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is
your spiritual act of worship.
(Romans 12:1)
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SESSION
TWO
COMMITMENT: THE PATHWAY
TO YOUR DREAMS27
Most of us like the word commitment; we just
don’t like what commitment requires. We want the
results of commitment without going through the
wringer of commitment. Our passion often starts
out as something easy and interesting, but it never
becomes a real passion without commitment.
Without commitment, our passion is our hobby.
When commitment kicks in, passion becomes life.
When commitment rolls in, we discover that one
level of passion is a means or platform for a deeper
level.
TEACHING
SESSION TWO: COMMITMENT
This video will continue
our series and look at the
first aspect or requirement
for living a life of passion.
Use the space provided
to track the key points
in Phil’s teaching and
initial conversations. Note
your personal reactions,
reflections, and responses
to what is being shared.
These are the kind of
intersections that God will
use to transform your life
Noel Salas understand commitment moments like
popping up on the front edge of a wave that can
crush you and he also knows about a commitment
life that takes you back to the waves even when
they have crushed you! Along the way he’s learned
that the practice of commitment takes its noblest
location when it becomes about people.
LISTEN
As you gather, take note whether there are new
people joining the group for this session. If you know their names, greet
them; if you don’t, introduce yourself. One of the best gifts you can give
another person is remembering their name.
1
2
3
and the life of your group over time.
Reflections on the story of Noel Solis:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
When you hear the word “commitment” what comes to mind? What
are some example of long commitment?
_______________________________________________________________
New people are exempt from this question. Last time we talked
about a vibrant life as part of the definition of Passion. What thoughts
have you had this week about living a vibrant life?
If there are one or more new participants in the group, take a
moment to review the set of shared values that you considered last
time (see page [00]). Perhaps talk a little about the fact that these
values are intended to make your sessions a safe and fun place to
connect with other people’s lives.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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29
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view
of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
(Romans 12:1 NIV)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For
wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many
enter through it.
But small is the gate and narrow the
road that leads to life, and only a few
find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in
him and he will do this: (Psalms 37:5
NIV)
LEARN
further explore the Bible background of the theme—Commitment in Passion.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
30
What are some examples of “serious commitment” the way you
see it?
Why do you think that “talkin’ commitment” is easier than
“walkin’ commitment”? Why does this problem make us avoid
commitments in the first place?
Since Phil mentioned he plans to use these terms repeatedly, how
do you think that what makes you tick and what makes you ticked
are two good clues to your passion?
Based on what you heard from Phil, what’s
the basic connection between Passion and
Commitment?
Phil used Jesus statement about the
broad way and the narrow way (see
Matthew 7:13–14) to talk about a key
to commitment. How does focus affect
commitment?
How would you explain Phil’s illustration
of equity as the result of commitment in
the same way that buying a home involves
equity that can’t be gained through a
lease?
Respond to this statement: When it comes
to your life, God isn’t interested in a
lease arrangement or a month-to-month
contract—God wants commitment?
31
10
Why is it important to remember (and count on) the fact that God
will give us the power to commit if we will let him? How does
a verse like Mark 9:24 help you understand God’s role in the
commitment process? “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,
‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24 NIV)
oAccording to Paul, how does commitment help us when the going
gets tough and hard?
o
Phil said, “If you serve God hard, it will be easy; if you serve God
easy, it will be hard.” What did he mean?
DEEPER
STUDY
2 Corinthians 5:16–19
o
How does verse 17 describe the results of our most basic
commitment to God?
Use the following passages if you have extra
time, or if the group desires to delve at greater
length into the theme for this session.
o
How does being a “new creation” give you the freedom to pursue
your passion?
Proverbs 3:5–6
o
What does trust have to do with
commitment?
o
“Heart,” “understanding,” and
“acknowledge” are different expressions of commitment. How does
each of these affect your passion and relationship with God?
o
Why, according the last line of these verses, do you want God’s
participation when you are pursuing your passion?
2 T i m o t hy 1 : 1 2
o
o
Some versions have “entrusted;” some have “committed” to describe
the action Paul says he has taken with God regarding his life and
future. How does verse one describe our new life in Christ and the
basic attitude we should now have?
When we talk about commitment in our relationship with God, how
does that go two ways?
32
o
When it comes to passion, we need to remember that God also
commits. How does verse 19 spell this out?
LIVE
Ultimately, living in a committed way for Christ is a continual combination
of personal challenge and response alongside of group interaction. The passionate life has to be personally intentional, even as we are involved with
others. God deals with us internally, but the results always affect our external
lives. This first characteristic of Passionate living sets the stage for all the others. Until we are committed, the rest of Passion is tentative and short-lived.
11
12
13
Our relationship with one another as Christians is very important to God. Why do you think God puts so much emphasis on
trusting commitment with him as we live in relationship with
others?
Because Passion affects everything (and everyone), what role
does your relationship with other people have in your making
and living a commitment to God?
What areas of life are you already realizing are going to be
deeply affected by your pursuit of passion?
33
LOVE
Because Jesus said it was the central,
bottom line command, passionate
living for a Christian can ultimately be
summarized as loving God and loving our
neighbors. We live in a culture that tries
to make a person’s spiritual life so private
that it becomes highly individualized
and isolated. Whatever you might call
that kind of spirituality, it certainly isn’t
Biblical or godly. Nor is it committed,
because commitment affects everything.
The Great Commandment comes to us as
individuals but it immediately involves us
in responding to God and others.
14
15
16
34
How does commitment reflect
our priority to love God and
love our neighbor?
What do you need to change in
your thinking, in your feeling,
and in your doing regarding
your relationships with others
in order to live in a committed
manner?
STUDY NOTES
Broad...narrow (Matthew 7:13–14).
Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount in several ways that commitment
and focus would be required of us. The Christian life isn’t haphazard; it has
the quality that Paul described this way: “Brothers, I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13). Now, that’s focused
commitment that unleashes passionate living.
Offer your bodies (Romans 12:1).
This is not the kind of offer you make at lunch with someone to pay the tab
when you’re really hoping they will cover it. This is the no-holds-barred,
“I’m all in, Lord” offer that God always accepts. If you make the offer, he
will take you up on it.
Commit (Psalm 37:5).
The way this verse refers to is life, future, and everything. The passionate
adventure in living is no longer thinking that God goes with us as much as
thinking I’m going with God; he’s leading the way; he’s going to determine
the outcome as only he can.
So, what is one specific habit,
attitude, problem, or challenge
that you need to upgrade to
passion this week?
35
DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
Day 9 – Worthy before the World
On the Life Church Website you will also find video devotions to go with
each of the daily passages listed below. Some of these will review passages
mentioned in the session and some will expand your Biblical awareness of
the themes.
_______________________________________________________________
Day 6 – Psalms 37:5 | Commitment Results
Day 10 – Romans 12:1 | Sacrifice
Reflection Question: Why does God want us buckled before the adventure
ride leaves?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: How is the loving one another an example of livin’
worthily?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: ?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 7 – Proverbs 3:5–6 | Commitment in Trust
Reflection Question: What are three aspects of commitment mentioned in
these verses?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 8 – Matthew 7:13–14 | Grace in Action
Reflection Question: How do your “tick” and your “ticked” points help you
create focus in your life?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this
is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans
12:1 NIV)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
36
37
When the world hears us talking about Passionate
Living, they have a certain idea of what that
means—living beyond your means: spending more,
wasting more, owning more, doing more—and
doing most of this on credit. For a Christian, living
passionately is also living beyond our means—
living fully on what God has provided in Christ.
That means that our attitude changes. They are also
very different than anything the world dreams up
when it tells people to live large.
For motor-cross racer and coach Tyler Klesiak, the
test of passionate living attitude came when he
could not longer do the thing! Repeated accidents
made it impossible to pursue riding fast, jumping
high, and push the limits of what bike and human
can do! Tyler shows us that genuine passion can
be expressed in some obvious ways, but remains
true—sometimes even more true when the obvious
ways are closed. And it has a lot to do with
attitude!
LISTEN
SESSION
THREE
THE FORCE THAT OVERCOMES
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
38
This is your third session together. For longstanding small groups, this may be another in a
series of encounters. Note that every time we meet,
we’re a new group. The experiences we have had
since our last session may have changed some
of us forever. These experiences may have been
exhilarating or devastating, but they have definitely
changed us. If we’ve been walkin’ commitment
instead of just talkin’ it, that kind of passion has
begun to change things. As we gather, we can be
attentive to ways in which our individual changes
may provide opportunities to encourage and pray for each other. As we will
discover in this session, we’re in a fight together!
39
1
2
In the first two sessions, we established the big picture of Passion
and the starting point of Commitment. What are some of the lifealtering ideas you’ve thought about as a result of those sessions?
TEACHING
SESSION THREE: ATTITUDE
If someone in your group didn’t attend the first two sessions, take
a few minutes as a group and fill them in on the main themes. Use
your notes in this booklet as you scan those sessions.
This third video includes a
short review of the Passion
objective of this series.
Then you will hear Phil’s
teaching on Attitude as a
significant component of
Passion. Use the spaces to
note the key points.
Reflections on Tyler Kresiak’s story:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
40
41
“Do not conform any longer to
the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s
will is--his good, pleasing and
perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV)
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
“For all that is in the world--the
lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life--is not
of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust
of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:16-17 NKJV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for
me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show
it. I am not saying this because I am in
need, for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances. I know
what it is to be in need, and I know what
it is to have plenty. I have learned the
secret of being content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. I can
do everything through him who gives
me strength” (Philippians 4:10-13 NIV)
Take a moment to finish jotting down
any points you want to remember from
Phil’s teaching.
42
LEARN
further explore the Bible background of the theme, Attitude, the force the
overcomes your circumstances.
3
4
5
6
7
8
What impressed you the most about Tyler’s attitude in dealing with
repeated disappointments?
You’ve had a couple of weeks to start picking up on your “passion
pulse.” What are you discovering about what makes you tick and
what makes you ticked?
How would you explain the following statement from Phil, using
your own life experiences as an example:
“Attitude determines your effectiveness
and your enjoyment?”
When the Bible talks about “the world”
as in Romans 12:2 what does that term
mean?
How exactly does the world try to make us
“conform” to its pattern?
Phil pointed out that going negative is
the default setting on the world’s outlook.
What examples of the tendency come to
mind?
43
9
10
What does the need to have our minds “renewed” say about
us? In what ways does transformation follow when we renew
our minds?
o
When it comes to a healthy spiritual attitude, what have you
found to be good attitude reinforcements?
DEEPER
STUDY
Use the following passages if you have
extra time, or if the group desires to delve at
greater length into the theme for this session.
P h i l i pp i a n s 2 : 5 – 1 1
o
Paul is the amazing details of Jesus’
decision to commit to our salvation. He
decided on the attitude, and everything else ran its course. What
area of Christ’s attitude have you been working on recently?
o
How have you seen this attitude of servant humility as you’ve
studied the life of Jesus?
o
What do you think your attitude is going to be when every knee
bows and every tongue confesses who Jesus is?
1 John 2:15–17
o
o
in the world that John warns us about?
John 3:16 tells us God loves the world, but John warns us here not
to love the world; why can’t we do what God does? What attitude
should we have toward the world?
How do you think that attitude makes the difference in overcoming
these temptations from the world?
Acts 17:22–34
o
What kind of attitude do you sense from Paul throughout this speech
in the high place in Athens?
o
If that speech from Paul had been your first introduction to the God
of the Bible, what would you have known about the creator at that
point?
o
What do you think was most compelling about Paul’s message?
LIVE
Every session in this study comes down to attitude. If the commitment that
we looked at last time is the underlying foundation related to faith; then attitude is that day-by-day confidence that the life of passion we’re pursuing
has God’s blessing. Meeting with brothers and sisters in Christ to learn about
these matters is crucial, but the learning falls flat if it never impacts our living! At this point is when James 1:22–25 kicks in big time. If you want to
experience the full effect of all of God’s blessings, then put the Word you are
learning into action.
11
Phil summarized the persistent attitude that should permeate a
Christian’s living:
o Learning to see God at work in every aspect of my life.
o Learning to see good in all the things in my life.
o Learning to see the goal throughout each part of my life
(the end results)
How does Romans 8:28 summarize that three part attitude?
What are some specific examples of each of the three danger points
44
45
12
As you look at those three levels of learning listed in the last
question, which one do you think needs your attention the
most these days?
LOVE
These sessions remind us that attitude has
to be seen in the ultimate context of loving
God and loving our neighbor. Our desire
is not to deliberately antagonize or dismiss
our neighbor in choosing to live for God.
This is not attitude is the sense the word
is sometimes used (pride, haughtiness), but
a genuine and humble attitude to trust in
God. Our prayer is always that in the way
we treat our neighbor even while not living
like him or her, they will be persuaded to
consider Who makes such a difference in
our lives.
13
When Paul says that we can
learn to see God, the good,
and the goal in all things, what
keeps us from projecting superiority over others? (How does
immediately welcoming others and persistently refusing to
take credit for what God has
done fit into the picture?)
14
What message does the world
get from Christians who are
“negaholics” according to
Phil?
15
How much attitude do you
think is involved when we set
out to love our neighbor?
46
STUDY NOTES
Do not conform...be transformed. (Romans 12:2).
These two terms capture the contrast between living for God with passion
and living under the control of the world. Note that conforming is what we
do, which transforming is what’s done to us by God. He’s the one doing the
work in us.
Renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).
The mind is not left behind when we talk about the matters of faith; it’s
front and center. Passion involves thinking as well as acting. In fact, part of
the Great Commandment can be expressed as “passionately love the Lord
your God with your mind.”
All things (Romans 8:28).
Too many people assume that this verse tries to claim that “all things are
good,” but it doesn’t. That attitude God wants us to maintain is that even
the bad things and downright evil that occurs to us God can bring around
to something good in our lives. He is the ultimate creative adaptor!
47
DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
Day 14 – Romans 12:2 | Mental Renovation
the themes.
_______________________________________________________________
Day 11 – Philippians 2:5 | Christ’s Attitude
Day 15 – Psalm 1:1–2 | Delightful Renewal
Reflection Question: How would you summarize Christ’s attitude in one
sentence?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: Describe one way in which the Word of God has
helped you think in a radically different way about something?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: Psalm 1:1 describes three ways to avoid being conformed to the world; verse two give you the alternative—delight in the law
of the Lord. How are you doing that these days?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 12 – Romans 8:28 | Attitude in the Valley
Reflection Question: When bad things are happening, how do we “see the
good” that’s up ahead?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 13 – Romans 12:2 | Pressure
Reflection Question: The command not to conform implies there will be
pressure to conform. Where are you feeling that?
_______________________________________________________________
2 Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you
will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is--his good, pleasing and
perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
48
49
SESSION
FOUR
The busier we get, the less likely we are to know
where we are and where we’re going. We can
move at the speed of light—but we’re not getting
anywhere if we’re running in circles. Life demands
that we stop and check our bearings. Passion
needs the GPS of evaluation. This is because
passion doesn’t necessarily direct itself. It is energy,
sometimes amazing energy, but it needs wisdom at
the controls.
Walt Ybarra has been in the school of passion for
over thirty years. He knows in a deep and intimate
way that passion left uncontrolled can accomplish
much that is not ultimately beneficial. He has
learned that the kind of guidance God provides to
passion allows for evaluation, change of direction,
and a deeper contentment than passion alone can
provide.
LISTEN
Because it’s so easy to talk ourselves into what
we want to do rather than the wise thing to do, evaluation requires the
component called others. Effective evaluation means that we learn to listen
to others. We learn to give them an honest sense of who we are so they can
give us the best counsel possible. This is why the regular practice of simple
listening that we are pursuing in each session is important.
1
EVALUATION: THE BEGINNING OF
ANY GOOD THING
50
2
If we’ve been paying attention the last three weeks, we’ve got
Passion on our minds. Let’s take a few minutes and tell each other
what examples we have observed of someone living a vibrant life
and what efforts we have made to live passionately ourselves.
Before God takes you to heaven, what is one of the wildest, most
outside-your-comfort zone experiences that you can imagine doing
as a Christian? In other words, what’s the most fantastic example
you can think of where someone is pursuing their passion out on
the edge?
51
TEACHING
SESSION ONE: PASSION
This video will continue
our journey through
Romans 12, examining yet
another aspect of what it
means to live a passionate
life. This session will
help us think about how
evaluation, particularly
of ourselves under God’s
guidance is an ongoing
essential part of passion.
Use the space provided
to track the key points in
Walt Debora’s story and in Phil’s teaching. Note your reactions, reflections,
and responses to what is being shared. God will use these interactions to
transform your life and the life of your group over time.
Reflections on Walt DeBora’s story:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
“For by the grace given me I
say to every one of you: Do not
think of yourself more highly
than you ought, but rather think
of yourself with sober judgment,
in accordance with the measure
of faith God has given you”
(Romans 12:3 NIV)
But to each one of us grace has
been given as Christ apportioned
it. Ephesians 4:7 NIV)
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend
themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare
themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast
beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has
assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. We are not going too far in
our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get
as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by
boasting of work done by others. Our
hope is that, as your faith continues to
grow, our area of activity among you
will greatly expand, so that we can
preach the gospel in the regions beyond
you. For we do not want to boast about
work already done in another man’s
territory. But, ‘Let him who boasts boast
in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who
commends himself who is approved,
but the one whom the Lord commends”
(2 Corinthians 10:12–18 NIV)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Take a few moments as a group to gather
your thoughts and finish any notes you
might have been making during the
teaching time. Consider how you would
answer if Phil stepped up and asked
you pointblank, “So, what’s your latest
evaluation telling you?”
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
52
53
LEARN
9
Have someone read 2 Corinthians 10:12–18 for the group. Phil
highlighted four components to Paul’s evaluation:
• Know your sphere/passion/gift (see vs. 12–14)
• Grow your gift/passion (see v. 15)
• Sow your passion with others (see vs. 15–16)
• Show (forth) what you have to others (see vs. 16–18)
further explore the Bible background of the theme: Evaluation: The Beginning
of Any Good Thing.
3
4
5
6
What was your take-away thought from Walt DeBora’s story?
Have someone read Romans 12:1–3. Where do you see evaluation
in both verse 2 and verse 3?
What does it mean to “test and approve God’s perfect will?”
What do you see as the benefit of humble
evaluation in relation to God’s will (v.2b)
as well as a sober evaluation of yourself
based on the “measure of faith God has
given you” (v.3)?
7
How would you describe “where you
are” and “who you are” at this point
in our journey with Christ? What is the
passionate direction from this place?
8
How does Romans 12:1 relate to Phil’s
statement: “You have to ‘altar’ your ego;
keep in on the cross” and Paul’s words
about “living sacrifice?”
54
What kind of “boasting” is Paul talking about here?
10
In what ways can God and others be involved in all four of the
steps above in a confirming or affirming way?
DEEPER
STUDY
o
What evidence do you see of Paul’s passion to not only spread
the Gospel but also make sure that churches he had planted were
healthy and growing?
o
Why is this kind of evaluation that Paul is doing also an important
discipline of clarification and planning? God obviously has the final
say, but how are you making plans with God’s purposes in mind?
o
In verse 18, how does Paul make it clear that the final evaluation is
and always will be in God’s hands?
55
Jeremiah 9:23–24
o
Paul quoted part of this passage in 2 Corinthians 10:18 you just
studied above. Note the three other areas of “achievement” that tend
to get special attention by world’s standard. What are they?
o
What’s the difference between knowing God and understanding
God?
o
Which traits in his character did God highlight in this passage? How
are they significant to you?
2 T i m o t hy 1 : 6 – 7
oAlthough Paul does not use the term Passion in these two verses,
how would you identify this as part of Paul’s subject?
o
How are you fanning into flame the gift of God in you? Who are the
“Pauls” in your life to encourage your passion?
o
What significance would you see in paraphrasing verse 7 as “God
did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of passion? In other
words, what contribution do power, love, and self-discipline make
to passion?
LOVE
When we think about applying the Great Commandment to love God and
our neighbor, we must get beyond the fact that we are unable to love this
way! If we wait until we think we can love this way, we will never love. If we
acknowledge our lack of love and stop there, we will never love, either. The
answer is to allow God to do the loving—to focus on what we can do and
ask God to let His love seep through our efforts.
13
14
How does love motivate your efforts to Know-Grow-Sow-Show
when it comes to expressing our passion?
Phil noted that dreams ultimately focus on God and others
while schemes focus on us. Take a moment to evaluate your
recurring dreams. Should they be re-titled schemes, or is your
imagination focused on what God might accomplish in your life
to the benefit of others?
LIVE
It’s one thing to talk about the Body of Christ as an interesting concept in loving
spiritual relationships; it’s another thing to experience God’s love in such a way
that we are motivated to love others in imitation of Him.
11
12
Phil mentioned three important traits to include as we seek to clarify
our gifts and engage in a passionate pursuit: humility, fearlessness,
and confidence in God. How have you applied these in seeking to
identify your gifts and sphere of ministry?
According to Paul (and Phil) we are not to compare ourselves to others. Comparisons are the playground of the ego. Why did Phil call
comparisons the journey down a slippery road with a deep ditch on
either side—one called “better” and one called “worse”? What else
is wrong with comparisons with other brothers and sisters in Christ?
56
57
STUDY NOTES
Sober judgment (Romans 12:3).
What a great picture of the ego under control. This kind of evaluation combines honesty with humility and passion. The reason for sober judgment is
because we can always do better. Passion doesn’t mean we’ve arrived—it
means we’re living a vibrant life on our way to eternal life!
Measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
This is another reason to refrain from comparisons. The point of evaluation ultimately is to please God and use what he has provided to us for his
glory. Ultimately we must do what we can always trusting God to “make
our way straight” and direct our path. We don’t have to prove our faith; we
simply have to exercise it.
DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
the themes.
Day 16 – Romans 12:2b | Testing and Approving
Reflection Question: How does testing and approving God’s will fit with
evaluating your own engagement in passion for God?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 17 – Luke 16:10 | Little First; Much Later
Reflection Question: Why does God start us out with “small” things in life?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 18 – Matthew 16:15 | Who Am I
Reflection Question: Jesus didn’t hesitate to seek the evaluation of those
closest to him. It wasn’t that he didn’t know himself, so why did he do it?
_______________________________________________________________
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Day 19 – Galatians 2:20–21 | Ego Under Control
Reflection Question: How did Paul demonstrate in this passage the reality
of an ego under control?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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Day 20 – 2 Corinthians 10:17 | Boasting
Reflection Question: When was the last time you boasted in the Lord with
someone?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
“For by the grace given me I say to every
one of you: Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought, but rather
think of yourself with sober judgment, in
accordance with the measure of faith God
has given you” (Romans 12:3 NIV)
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SESSION
FIVE
UNIQUENESS: THE GIFTS GOD WANTS
YOU TO EMBRACE61
The world celebrates uniqueness—as long as it
isn’t too different, or as long as it fits into certain
categories. The world has a way of making a lot of
unique people feel their uniqueness is worthless
and unnecessary. God insists otherwise. The one
thing never heard during the process God uses in
creating each one of us is “Oops.” We are unique
for a good reason—God’s reason.
Michelle Eastman has discovered that her
uniqueness is her doorway to passion—and her
all-access pass. She advocates for people with
Cerebral Palsy because she speaks as an authority
by experience. And her experience gives her
passion authenticity that can’t be denied.
LISTEN
One of the skills of vibrant Christians is the
practice of listening. We’ve started each of the
sessions with listening exercises, taking the time to
discover each other in the simple responses to life.
These are great warm-ups for our later discussions,
but they also serve to train us in the fine art of
approaching one another’s heart and soul, seeking
to serve, seeking to represent Jesus always for each
other. Passionate people are encouraged by the
passion on others.
1
2
Let’s begin by taking turns sharing what we
remember as our most vivid experience of
a night sky or solar eclipse. Where were
you and how did that experience of God’s
gift of light affect you?
Of the four previous Passion sessions
we’ve had (Passion, Commitment, Attitude, and Evaluation), which
one has created the biggest changes in your life? Why?
TEACHING
SESSION FIVE: UNIQUENESS
In this fifth teaching, Phil
will tackle the challenges
we face living passionately
for God in a world that
instinctively resists that
life. While the previous
sessions have focused
on the shared principles
of passionate living, this
session zeroes in on
the way we have been
uniquely gifted by God
for a vibrant life. Use the
spaces below to track the key points in Phil’s teaching.
Reflections on Michelle’s story:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Responses to Phil’s teaching on Uniqueness: The Gifts God
Wants You to Embrace
_______________________________________________________________
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“Just as each of us has one body
with many members, and these
members do not all have the
same function, so in Christ we
who are many form one body,
and each member belongs
to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the
grace given us. If a man’s gift is
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve;
if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let
him give generously; if it is leadership,
let him govern diligently; if it is showing
mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans
12:4-8 NIV)
“‘The most important one,’ answered
Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord
our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind and
with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbor
as yourself.” There is no commandment
greater than these’” (Mark 12:29-31
NIV) “He who did not spare his own
Son, but gave him up for us all--how will
he not also, along with him, graciously
give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV)
LEARN
further explore the Bible background of the theme, Uniqueness.
3
4
5
6
7
In thinking about Michelle’s story, would you say she discovered
her passion through what made her tick or through what made her
ticked? How?
What experiences have you had in the past several weeks that you
could call, in Phil’s terminology, “finding your passion pulse” for
living?
Have someone read Romans 12:4–8? How are the twin themes of
Uniqueness and Teamwork (next session’s theme) woven together?
How do you respond to the principle Phil
explained this way: “You have to own
yourself (and the message) before you can
give yourself away”?
The next questions will all relate to the
seven passions that Phil explained briefly
in the teaching:
a. Declaring Truth – Prophesying (v.6):
Inspired, persuasive speech.
b. Serving – Ministries (v.7): Detecting and
meeting the needs of others.
c. Teaching – Instruction (v.7): Search out
and validate truth with application
d. Exhorting – Encourage (v.8): Stimulate
others to higher goals.
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e. Giving – Contributing (v.8): Create/make/
manage assets and resources.
f. Leading – Ruling (v.8): Motivate people toward
goals and objectives.
g. Showing Mercy (v.8): Problem-solving;
addressing injustice.
Which two or three of these got your attention?
8
9
10
Next to each of the seven passions,
write the word “tick” or “ticked,”
depending on how that particular
passion strikes you? In other words,
which of these tend to turn your
crank and which ones do you most
notice when they are lacking?
DEEPER
STUDY
o
Romans 12 is not the only place in the New Testament where gifts
are discussed or even listed, though the Romans passage seems to
offer a summary of passion gifts. This passage includes more on gifts
and their use within the body of Christ. How do verses 20 and 27
emphasize the purpose of the gifts?
For the two or three you identified
as your possible areas of passion,
how are you presently engaged
in each of them in some (perhaps
unusual) way?
o
The Romans passage emphasizes the use of the gifts; what does this
passage say about the source of the gifts?
o
Given the message of this entire chapter, what would Paul say is our
primary motivation for discovering our gifts and passion?
Each of the passions above are
areas we can function in, and
sometimes have to function in
even if they are not our passion.
For example, we’re all called to
give to a certain degree. We can’t
be passionate about everything!
But when we are operating in an
area of passion, we are energized rather than tapping into
resources we’ve gotten elsewhere. Take a moment and read
through the list above again, writing a “E” next to each one you
feel energized just thinking about or a “T” next to each one that
immediately starts to drain energy. If it’s in-between put an ET.
How does this help you narrow down the possibilities for your
area of passion?
Mark 12:29–31
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o
When Jesus quoted for this man the familiar verses about God’s
ultimate requirement of us, he presented 3 specific candidates who
should receive our love. Who are they? Would you say they are
presented in descending (greatest to smallest) order or ascending
(smallest to greatest) order?
o
If you were hearing this command for the first time and decided
you needed to apply it to your life, where would you actually start:
loving God, loving neighbor, or loving your self? (Remember that
this entire passage assumes the reality that God already and has
always loved us first—he doesn’t wait to start loving us until we love
him).
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o
How does this passage underscore the importance of owning
yourself before you give yourself away?
Romans 8:32
14
Besides your small group, list below at least three names of
people whose lives you intend to impact with your passion this
next week.
o
How does this verse give you a sense of the degree to which you are
valued by God?
STUDY NOTES
o
Based on this verse, how would God want to be involved in your
process of discovering your passion?
o
How does this verse, along with verse 28 above emphasize one
of Phil’s repeated statements that “Life doesn’t happen to you; it
happens for you”?
LOVE
Passion is, after all, another word for love. Passion is not only what we
love, what we’re wired to do; it’s also the means
God has given us to express love. When we are
functioning out of our passion-pulse, we are in the
best place to pour love, God’s kind of love, into
the lives of other people. Passion is not ultimately
going to be about how we feel, but about what
God can do through us with the gifts he’s given us.
13
14
As a group or individual exercise,
go back through the list of passions
in question 7 and brainstorm several
ways each of those passions could
be used to express love. Again, note
which ones get your pulse rate up!
Do not have the same function. (Romans 12:4).
Even if you have a passion very similar to someone else, that doesn’t make
one of you unnecessary. When Paul was writing, the general idea of “members of the body”—arms, legs, eyes—was enough to get the idea across.
Now that we understand the cellular structure of bodies, we need to think
that our passion makes us a certain kind of cell in the body of Christ. We’re
not the only cell of that kind, but we function as that cell in a certain time
and place, and God has a certain purpose for all those factors. God has
plenty for all of us to do, whatever our passion!
Each member belongs to all the others.
(Romans 12:5).
God’s Word breaks through our “consumer” mindset and reminds us that
the body of Christ doesn’t exist to meet our needs or for our purposes.
Being part of the body of Christ means everyone else owns you—and
you own them. You’re in this together; fellows in the same ship. You’re an
integral, participating part of living organism and the rest of the body needs
you. The motivation behind passion cannot be selfishness or the passion
will be purposeless. Passion allows us to best opportunity to be in the place
God intended for us, doing the very thing he had in mind for us to do.
How would you like the rest of your
group to pray for you as you seek to
clarify and pursue your passion?
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DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
Day 24 – Romans 12:6 | Amazing Grace
the themes.
_______________________________________________________________
Day 21 – Romans 8:32 | You Are Valued
Day 25 – Romans 12:3 | Paul’s Passion
_______________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: What does it mean to you that God valued you long
before you had done anything to deserve it and nothing you can do will
make God love you more?
Reflection Question: In what sense do we need to remember that gifts are
evidence in our lives of God’s grace?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: “For by the grace given to me I say to every one of
you...” How does this entire passage capture Paul functioning in the sweet
spot of his passion-gifts?
Day 22 – Mark 12:29–30 | Loving God Passionately
Reflection Question: How are you applying your passion to loving God?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
So in Christ we who are many form one
body, and each member belongs to all the
others. Romans 12:5
Day 23 – Mark 12:31 | Being Your Own Neighbor
Reflection Question: How does a healthy self-love start with an understanding of God’s love?
_______________________________________________________________
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Coming right after uniqueness as a trait for passion,
teamwork seems a little like an disconnect—how
do these two go together? Do we give up our
uniqueness if we combine our efforts with others?
Not of we realize that our uniqueness is a special
part of a larger puzzle and that the whole picture
will never come to be if others don’t get involved.
Genuine passion is both personal and dependent
on others. Otherwise, it is severely limited.
Evelyn Komuntale has discovered that the delight
of teamwork in passion is to find that others share a
similar passion. Or they share a passion that comes
alongside ours and deepens, widens, and lengthens
its impact. Two and more together accomplish
more than two and more alone.
LISTEN
SESSION
SIX
TEAMORK: ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
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Since we will be talking about teamwork in this
session, we might as well start by recognizing that
listening requires teamwork. Listening doesn’t mean
much if there’s no one speaking to us. We can
listen to God, listen to others, but we can’t listen to
nothing. So listening is a team sport. And it’s best
done with people who practice the truth that God
gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason. If we
listen twice as much as we speak we will probably
discover that we could benefit from listening even
more!
1
2
What would you say has been one of the
best team experiences of your life and why
would you describe it that way?
Name three people you would love to have a conversation with, not
because of what you could say to them but because you know you
would appreciate what they had to say to you. Why did you chose
those particular people?
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TEACHING
SESSION SIX: TEAMWORK
In this sixth teaching, Phil
will quickly review how
we’ve arrived where we
are and then talk about the
crucial theme of teamwork
as an essential component
in passionate living. Use
the spaces below to track
the key points in Phil’s
teaching.
Reflections on Evelyn Komunteli’s story:
“Just as each of us has one body
with many members, and these
members do not all have the
same function, so in Christ we
who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to
all the others. We have different
gifts, according to the grace given
us. If a man’s gift is prophesying,
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
let him use it in proportion to his faith”
(Romans 12:4-6 NIV)
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge
you to live a life worthy of the calling you
have received. Be completely humble
and gentle; be patient, bearing with one
another in love. Make every effort to
keep the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Responses to Phil’s teaching on Teamwork: All for One and
One for All
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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LEARN
further explore the Bible background of the theme, Teamwork.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Evelyn tied the current expression of her passion directly with her
experiences of suffering as a child. How are you finding that your
past experiences offer clues to identifying your passion?
Have someone read Romans 12:4–6. The
last time we talked about how team and
uniqueness are woven together in this
chapter of scripture. What does it tell us
about teamwork?
In identifying our “dream team” Phil
urges us to start with the four “p” so that
we end up with at least four peas in our
pod: partner/wife, parents, peers, pastor.
Discuss what each of these persons bring
to create your connections with the body
of Christ. Are any of them optional? Why
or why not?
In Ephesians 4:1–3, Paul includes five
examples of what he means by living in
a manner worthy of our calling from God
(into the body of Christ). What are they,
and how do they fit with the crucial idea
of teamwork?
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Phil included several pictures of
healthy teamwork mindset in his
presentation. Discuss what each of
these means to you:
o Give your heart to people by
listening, and when you need it
they’ll return the favor.
o Treat everyone like they’re the
gatekeeper to your destiny; one day
you’ll be right.
When you picture in your mind examples of the body of Christ
functioning as a team, what specific experiences do you remember?
What do you think of Phil’s definition of a personal dream-team:
Having people around you who bring out the best in you and from
whom you bring out the best?
“If the disease of me” and the “you bug” is worse than the “flu
bug,” how do we maintain unity? (See Ephesians 4:1–3 again).
o It’s hard for a man to be what he
ought to be unless he has to be.
DEEPER
STUDY
Use the following passages if you have extra time, or if the group desires to
delve at greater length into the theme for this session
Eph e s i a n s 4 : 1 – 3
o
In these verses, how many of the specific worthy tasks can be done
alone?
o
What is the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (v.3)?
o
Based on this passage, how do calling and passion go together?
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Acts 17:22–31
o
How does Paul, even in talking to an audience of not-yet-believers,
emphasize that the gospel calls us into a body not a individualize
walk with God?
o
What’s the clue to connectedness that is built right into human
history?
John 17:20–26
o
In this passage, Jesus prayed for us, even today. Where do you find
yourself represented in Jesus’ prayer?
o
How does Jesus pray for our teamwork and unity?
o
If Jesus prayed for it, what level of priority should it be for us?
LIVE
In much of the New Testament, particularly the Epistles (Letters), when the word
“you” is used, it’s most often plural. Our Southern brothers and sisters capture
the sense of plural use of the “you” when they say, “y’all.” This means Paul
note in Ephesians 4:1 could be paraphrased, “I urge
y’all to live a life worthy of the calling y’all have received.” If the commands about our lives are issued
in the plural, that God has every intention of treating
us and growing as a body. God’s plan for us includes
teamwork.
11
12
13
14
Phil mentioned “Our Father” as a prayer reminder of teamwork.
That same prayer later asks God to “forgive our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us.” How crucial do you think forgiveness is
in keeping a team functioning for maximum passion?
Are there any cases of forgiveness withheld or forgiveness not
sought that might be preventing your dream team from supporting
your passion? What can you do about that?
LOVE
If forgiveness is the main tool we have to repair the breaches in unity and
the wounds that come up in the team, then love is
the primary maintenance tool that keeps the team
functioning like a well-oiled machine—only more
beautiful! Where there is genuine and effective
teamwork, love is also working.
15
When was the last time you told the
people you consider to be members of
your dream team that you love them?
How have you shown them that, too?
16
How is your pursuit of passion affecting
the way that you love other people?
What changes, if any, have others
remarked about in you since you began
this study?
Who’s on your dream team right now?
On whose dream team are you currently a member?
Are there any of the 4 P’s discussed
earlier that aren’t or can’t be on your
dream team? Why? What would it take
to remedy that situation?
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STUDY NOTES
this lesson, giving some background or
possible explanations:
In Christ we who are many
form one body. (Romans 12:5).
The point of this phrase is to remind
us that the connection between is has
been created in Christ and by Christ.
Our basic connection with other
Christians always comes back to what
we share in Christ. He brings and
binds us together. A dream team may
involve some issues of compatibility,
availability, and proximity, but these
relationships should never cause us to
ignore the links we have with the body
of Christ at large.
DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
the themes.
Day 26 – Philippians 2:20–22 | Like-minded
Reflection Question: How important is it to you to be like-minded with the
members of your dream team?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 27 – Romans 12:4 | Strength
Bond of peace.
(Ephesians 4:3).
On his last night on earth, Jesus talked
about a particular kind of peace that
only he can provide. The world may
clamor for peace, but it’s often the
sham of peace that holds out the idea
that everyone ought to be able to have,
be, and do whatever they want without
complications. In a fallen world, that
can never happen. And that’s not God’s
peace. The bond of peace in Christ
means, first that we give up our will to
have, be, and do whatever we want and
set our sights instead on seeing God’s
Reflection Question: What kind of comfort do you take that you are surrounded in the body of Christ by many members?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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Day 28 – Colossians 4:5–6 | Huddle
Reflection Question: How do you let your team know your needs?
_______________________________________________________________
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Day 29 – Colossians 1:28 | Wisdom’s Goal
Reflection Question: Beyond your dream team, how are you caring for the
larger team that is the body of Christ?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 30 – Philippians 2:3–4 | Looking Out
Reflection Question: What people in your life would say that “you’ve got
their back” no matter what happens?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all
have the same function, so in Christ we
who are many form one body, and each
member belongs to all the others.
(Romans 12:4–5)
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SESSION
SEVEN
CHARACTER: THE STRENGTH TO STAND
FOR WHAT REALLY83MATTERS IN LIFE
The last chapters on character get written when the
main story is done. That’s why there’s hope to the
end. But character that permeates passion is what
leaves a lasting impression on people. Like it or
not, the main thing people will talk about when
you’re gone is your character.
TEACHING
SESSION SIX: TEAMWORK
In this seventh teaching,
Phil will cover the last
element taken from
Romans 12 that is
essential for the sustained
passionate life. Here we
will learn that passion
without character is heat
without light, action
without depth or purpose.
Use the spaces below to
track the key points in
Phil’s teaching.
Reggie Woolridge will be missed. Some people
exude character. Your first impression of them
is only confirmed and deepened by years of
impression. What on the inside turns out to be
the same stuff that shows on the outside: integrity,
depth, loyalty, love—all shot through with gentle
humor. Passion without genuine character leaves
less to remember.
LISTEN
As we have pointed out frequently, we serve each
other just by listening. When we give people our
heart, 3/5 of that has to be ear! By now you’re
probably getting used to Phil’s plays on words. That
may well be part of his passion!
1
2
This is our last official session in the
Passion series. Let’s take a few minutes
and share highlights: what are some of the
ways you now think about living a vibrant
life that are new and life-changing for you?
Reflections on the conversation between Greg and Doug:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Responses to Phil’s teaching on Character:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
One of the underlying themes in this series
has been the importance of transparency
between Christ followers. As you have integrated the teachings
from these sessions into your life, what have emerged as some of
the challenges that the rest of this group can pray about on your
behalf?
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_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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“Love must be sincere. Hate what
is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another
in brotherly love. Honor one
another above yourselves. Never
be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer.
REVIEW
THESE
KEY
PASSAGES
Share with God’s people who are in
need. Practice hospitality. Bless those
who persecute you; bless and do not
curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn. Live in
harmony with one another. Do not
be proud, but be willing to associate
with people of low position. Do not be
conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for
evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as
far as it depends on you, live at peace
with everyone. Do not take revenge, my
friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge;
I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the
contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink. In doing this, you will heap
burning coals on his head.’ Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good” (Romans 12:9–21)
LEARN
3
4
5
Use the following questions to
consider the teaching video as
well as to further explore the
Bible background of the theme,
Character.
That was quite a conversation about someone named Reggie. If you
died this next week, what would be one or two things you hope
people would mention about you that were character traits? What
three people would you like to overhear having a conversation
about you after you’re gone?
Phil pointed out that “passion allows us to obtain success; character
will help us sustain success.” Why do you think that’s the case?
Phil has combined the list of Passion gifts from Romans 12:6–8
with the character traits Paul appeals to in Romans 12:9–21:
PaSSIon GIFT
CHaRaCTER RooTS
Declare Truth
Let love be without hypocrisy. abhor evil, cling to
what is good (v.9
Serve
Be kind, affectionate, have brotherly love, honor
and prefer one another (v.10)
Teach
Don’t lag in diligence, be fervent in spirit, serving
the Lord (v.11)
Encourage
Rejoice in hope, be patient, strong in prayer (v.12)
Give
Give to the needs of the saints, be hospitable
(v.13)
Lead
Bless people, rejoice with people, have empathy,
be honest (vs. 14–17)
Showing Mercy
Be peaceable, love your enemies, overcome evil
with good (vs. 18–21
Talk about each of the Passion gifts and their character traits. How do they
fit together?
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6
7
8
9
In the list above, look at the items that you are targeting as your
passion pulse. How well do the accompanying characteristics
describe your character traits?
What do you think a person should do when it becomes clear
to them that they have some deficiencies in their character?
Can character be changed? If so, how?
DEEPER
STUDY
Use the following passages if you have extra time, or if the group desires to
delve at greater length into the theme for this session
In what ways is the regular study of God’s Word and participation
with other believers in studies together like this one at least part
of the training program
for character?
If we go back to the
beginning and look at
Romans 12:1–2, how
does that sacrificial and
renewal process impact
character?
Matthew 7:24–27
o
What was identical about these two men’s lives? What was radically
different?
o
Why is exposure to God’s Word so much less than obedience to
God’s Word?
o
How did each of these men actually experience the truth of life
happening for them?
James 1:22–25
10
This might be a good
time for a personal
exercise in evaluation
that we learned about
previously. It’s important
to understand where we
are before we decide where to go next.
Phil spent a significant amount of time
talking about secrets and dealing with
secrets. How are you doing in the area
of secrets and spending time in the
darkness where Satan still has power?
What do you want to do about your
situation?
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o
How is James’ counsel strikingly similar to the words of his big halfbrother Jesus you just looked at above?
o
In what ways does a “law” give freedom (v.25)?
o
Based on this passage, what would James advise someone seeking to
deepen their character?
Romans 5:1-5
•
How would you describe that status of the people Paul is describing
here regarding their relationship with God?
•
Suffering, perseverance, character, hope—what examples can you
find in your life where God used this training plan on you?
•
Why is perseverance the link between suffering and character?
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LIVE
LOVE
We may be coming to the close of this
study, but the Passionate living goes on.
In one sense we have arrived at an end
but in another we have simply made one
more step toward the vibrant life in Christ
that God intends for us to have. Every one
of these sessions has stressed the Biblical
principle that the ultimate proof to truth
is in life application. We trust the lessons
have seeped down to the roots of your
character, where they can do the most
good. Here again, we want to translate
the principles of living passionately into
the practice of living passionately!
11
12
13
We touched on the issue of
secrets back in question 10.
Why do secrets have such a
destructive effect in our lives
and on our character?
If you did have a secret that
needed to be lanced and
exposed, to whom would you
go to share that secret? How
does the teamwork we talked
about last session become
crucial in helping us deal
with secrets and holding us
accountable for integrity?
What was it about this
session’s passage in Romans 12:9–21 that pushed Phil to focus
so clearly on secrets and their destructive nature? In what ways
does this passage address secrets or the content of secrets?
90
Love longs to see character develop. That’s why God loves us and puts us in
character training, as we saw in Romans 5:1–5. That’s why love is mentioned
in several ways in the character actions Paul mentioned in Romans 12:9–21.
Love has to be involved because we don’t naturally gravitate towards character
development. One way we love each other is to encourage each other to persevere in whatever God has allowed in our lives, because the good results will
be character!
14
15
Have someone read Romans 12:9–21 again for the group. After
each verse, stop for a moment and have people suggest two or three
loving ways that verse could be applied in the days to come.
What is the most significant decision about passionate living that
you have made and begun to live out during this study? How would
you like the rest of the group to pray for you?
STUDY NOTES
Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope. (Romans 5:3).
The word perseverance translates a Greek that means “remain under a
weight or burden.” What a great description of the wise and mature response
to suffering—we hang in there, stay under, and stand firm. This is learned;
it doesn’t come naturally. We instinctively want to dodge, fold, run. But
character is the result when we let God work his will in our lives, even when
the process is uncomfortable.
Never lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor.
(Romans 12:11).
Zeal and fervor are both words that capture aspects of passion. What ever
that single-minded passion that God has built into us, the purpose was to
serve the Lord.
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DAILY
DEVOTIONALS
Day 34 – Romans 12:13 | Practicing
the themes.
_______________________________________________________________
Day 31 – Philippians 3:13 | Forgetting
Day 35 – Romans 12:1–2 | Full Circle
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: How is “forgetting” a significant part of character
development?
Reflection Question: How often do you practice hospitality? Is the practice
making perfect?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Reflection Question: How does our first passage emphasize the point that
godly passionate living involves daily living sacrifice?
Day 32 – Matthew 7:24–27 | Building Character
Reflection Question: How can you tell the difference between a life built
on sand and a life built on the Rock?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Day 33 – Romans 5:1–5 | Character Training
Reflection Question: What has to happen on the way to character development?
Be devoted to one another in brotherly
love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
(Romans 12:10–11)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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93
A P P EN D I X
A P P EN D I X
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS
We’ve experienced so many life changes as a result of reading the
Bible daily. People tell us that the number one contributor to their
growth was the deeper walk with God that came as a result of the
daily devotions. We strongly encourage you to have everyone set a
realistic goal. Pair people into same-gender spiritual (accountability)
partners.
This will improve your results tenfold. Then we encourage everyone to take a few minutes each day to READ the verse for the day,
REFLECT on what God is saying to you through the verse, and RESPOND to God in prayer in a personal journal. Each of these verses
was selected to align with the week’s study. After you complete
the reading, simply put a check mark next to the verse. Enjoy the
journey!
APPENDIX
94
95
A P P EN D I X
S M A L L G RO U P L EA D ER S
30-DAY BIBLE READING PLAN
Imagine sitting at the feet of Jesus himself: the
Teacher who knows how to live life well, the
Savior who died for you, the Lord who commands the universe. Like his first disciples,
you can follow him around, watch what he
does, listen to what he says and pattern your
life after his.
Luke had a heart for outsiders. He was fascinated by the way Jesus treated women, the
poor, non-Jews and persons of disreputable
character.
Find a quiet place, and have ready a notebook or journal in which you can write what
you learn and what you want to say back to
God. It’s helpful to have one or two simple
questions in mind to focus your reading. Here
are some suggestions:
• What do I learn from the life of Christ (his
identity, personality, priorities)?
• How does he want me to live differently?
• How did Jesus treat people?
• How does he want me to respond to what
he said and did?
When we’ve sat at the Master’s feet like
this ourselves, the sense of a real, alive,
present Jesus has been breathtaking. We
pray you’ll have the same experience.
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1. Romans 12:1
2. Romans 12:1
3. Romans 12:1
4. Romans 12:2
5. Romans 12:2
6. Psalms 37:5
7. Proverbs 3:5–6
8. Matthew 7:13–14
9. Worthy before the World
10.Romans 12:1
11.Philippians 2:5
12.Romans 8:28
13.Romans 12:2
14.Romans 12:2
15.Psalm 1:1–2
16.Romans 12:2b
17.Luke 16:10
18.Matthew 16:15
19.Galatians 2:20–21
20.2 Corinthians 10:17
21.Romans 8:32
22.Mark 12:29–30
23.Mark 12:31
24.Romans 12:6
25.Romans 12:3
26.Philippians 2:20–22
27.Romans 12:4
28.Colossians 4:5–6
29.Colossians 1:28
30.Philippians 2:3–4
31.Philippians 3:13
32.Matthew 7:24–27
33.Romans 5:1–5
34.Romans 12:13
35.Romans 12:1–2
HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE
If you’re starting a new group, try planning an “open house” before your first formal group meeting. Even if you only have two to
four core members, it’s a great way to break the ice and to consider
prayerfully who else might be open to join you over the next few
weeks. You can also use this kick-off meeting to hand out study
guides, spend some time getting to know each other, discuss each
person’s expectations for the group and briefly pray for each other.
A simple meal or good desserts always make a kick-off meeting
more fun. After people introduce themselves and share how they
ended up being at the meeting (you can play a game to see who
has the wildest story!), have everyone respond to a few icebreaker
questions: “What is your favorite family vacation?” or “What is one
thing you love about your church/our community?” or “What are
three things about your life growing up that most people here don’t
know?” Next, ask everyone to tell what he or she hopes to get out of
the study. You might want to review the Small Group Agreement and
talk about each person’s expectations and priorities.
Finally, set an open chair (maybe two) in the center of your group
and explain that it represents someone who would enjoy or benefit
from this group but who isn’t here yet. Ask people to pray about
whom they could invite to join the group over the next few weeks.
Hand out postcards and have everyone write an invitation or two.
Don’t worry about ending up with too many people; you can always
have one discussion circle in the living room and another in the dining room after you watch the lesson. Each group could then report
prayer requests and progress at the end of the session.
You can skip this kick-off meeting if your time is limited, but you’ll
experience a huge benefit if you take the time to connect with each
other in this way.
97
LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME
LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME
• Sweaty palms are a healthy sign. The Bible says God is gracious
to the humble. Remember who is in control; the time to worry is
when you’re not worried. Those who are soft in heart (and sweaty
palmed) are those whom God is sure to speak through.
Congratulations! You have responded to the call to help shepherd
• Seek support. Ask your leader, co-leader or close friend to pray for
you and prepare with you before the session. Walking through the
study will help you anticipate potentially difficult questions and
discussion topics.
to keep in mind. We encourage you to read these and review them
• Bring your uniqueness to the study. Lean into who you are and
how God wants you to uniquely lead the study.
you, and He knew that you would be asked to lead your group.
• Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Go through the session several times.
If you are using the DVD, listen to the teaching segment and
Leadership Lifter. Consider writing in a journal or fasting for a day
to prepare yourself for what God wants to do.
• Ask for feedback so you can grow. Perhaps in an e-mail or on
cards handed out at the study, have everyone write down three
things you did well and one thing you could improve on. Don’t
get defensive, but show an openness to learn and grow.
Jesus’ flock. There are a few other tasks in the family of God that
surpass the contribution you will be making. As you prepare to lead,
whether it is one session or the entire series, here are a few thoughts
with each new discussion leader before he or she leads.
1. Remember that you are not alone. God knows everything about
Remember that it is common for all good leaders to feel that they
are not ready to lead. Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah and Timothy - they
all were reluctant to lead. God promises, “Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Whether you are leading for one evening, for several weeks, or for a lifetime, you will be
blessed as you serve.
2. Don’t try to do it alone. Pray right now for God to help you build
a healthy leadership team. If you can enlist a co-leader to help you
lead the group, you will find your experience to be much richer.
• Prayerfully consider launching a new group. This doesn’t need to
happen overnight, but God’s heart is for this to happen over time.
Not all Christians are called to be leaders or teachers, but we are
all called to be “shepherds” of a few.
This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in build-
• Share with your group what God is doing in your heart. God is
searching for those whose hearts are fully His. Share your trials
and victories. We promise that people will relate.
3. Just be yourself. If you won’t be you, who will? God wants you
• Prayerfully consider whom you would like to pass the baton to
next week. It’s only fair. God is ready for the next member of your
group to go on the faith journey you just traveled.
it when you don’t have an answer, and apologize when you make
98
ing a healthy group. All you have to do is call and ask people to
help, you’ll be surprised at the response.
to use your unique gifts and temperament. Don’t try to do things exactly like another leader; do them in a way that fits you! Just admit
a mistake. Your group will love you for it, and you’ll sleep better at
night!
99
4. Prepare for your meeting ahead of time. Review the session and
sion, always read aloud the transitional paragraphs and the
the leader’s notes, and write down your responses to each ques-
questions. Ask the group if anyone would like to read the paragraph
tion. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to
or Bible passage. Don’t call on anyone, but ask for a volunteer, and
do something other than engage in discussion. These exercises
then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person
will help your group live what the Bible teaches, not just talk about
who reads aloud.
it. Be sure you understand how an exercise works, and bring any
necessary supplies (such as paper and pens) to your meeting. If the
8. Break up into small groups each week, or they won’t stay. If your
exercise employs one of the items in the appendix, be sure to look
group has more than seven people, we strongly encourage you to
over that item so you’ll know how it works. Finally, review “Read
have the group gather in discussion circles of three or four people
Me First” so you’ll remember the purpose of each section in the
during the DEEPENING or HONORING sections of the study. With
study.
a greater opportunity to talk in a small circle, people will connect
more with the study, apply more quickly what they’re learning and
5. Pray for your group members by name. Before you begin your
ultimately get more out of it. A small circle also encourages a quiet
session, go around the room in your mind and pray for each mem-
person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a more
ber by name. You may want to review the prayer list at least once a
vocal or dominant member. It can also help people feel more loved
week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every
in your group. When you gather again at the end of the section, you
person uniquely. Expect God to lead you to whomever he wants
can have one person summarize the highlights from each circle.
you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God
Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are
will surely lead!
unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying
it with just two or three others. Also, prayer requests won’t take as
6. When you ask a question, be patient. Someone will eventually
much time, so circles will have more time to actually pray. When
respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to
you gather back with the whole group, you can have one person
think about the question, and if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t
from each circle briefly update everyone on the prayer requests.
bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response
People are more willing to pray in small circles if they know that the
with a simple “thanks” or “good job.” Then ask, “How about some-
whole group will hear all the prayer requests.
body else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?” Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren’t
ready to say, pray or do anything. If you give them a safe setting,
they will blossom over time.
7. Provide transitions between questions. When guiding the discus100
101
G RO U P RE S O U RCE S
SMALL GROUP AGREEMENT
Group Attendance
Safe Environment
To give priority to the group meeting. We will call or email if we will be late or absent. (Completing the Group Calendar will minimize this issue.)
To help create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved. (Please, no quick answers, snap judgments or simple fixes.)
Respect Differences
To be gentle and gracious to people with different spiritual maturity, personal opinions, temperaments or
imperfections. We are all works in progress.
Confidentiality
To keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group; and to avoid sharing improper information about those outside the group.
Encouragement for Growth
To be not just takers but givers of life. We want to spiritually multiply our life by serving others with our God-given gifts.
Welcoming
Newcomers
To keep an open chair and share Jesus' dream of finding a shepherd for every sheep.
Shared Ownership
To remember that every member is a minister and to ensure that each attender will share a small team role or responsibility over time.
Rotating Hosts/Leaders
and Homes
To encourage different people to host the group in their homes and to rotate the responsibility of facilitating each meeting. (See the Group Calendar)
SMALL GROUP CALENDAR
Date
Lesson
Host Home
Dessert/Meal
Leader
Monday
January 15
1
Steve and
Laura’s
Joe
Bill
Our Times Together:
• Child care _______________________________________________
• Refreshments/mealtimes ___________________________________
• When we will meet (day of week) ___________________________
• Where we will meet (place) ________________________________
• We will begin at (time) ______________ and end at ____________
• We will do our best to have some or all of us attend a worship
service together. Our primary worship service time will be ______
• Date of this agreement ____________________________________
• Date we will review this agreement __________________________
• Who (other than the leader) will review this agreement at the end
of this study_______________________________________________
102
103
104
254 Main Street, 92665
Bill Jones
766-2255
Phone
SESSION FIVE
[email protected]
Socials
SESSION ONE
Children’s Ministry
Church Ministry
SESSION TWO
Team or Role
SESSION THREE
E-Mail Address
SESSION FOUR
PRAYER REQUESTS
Address
SESSION SIX
PRAYER AND PRAISE REPORT
Name
SESSION SEVEN
SMALL GROUP ROSTER
PRAISE REQUESTS
105
PHIL & JEANNIE
MUNSEY
Phil was the youngest boy in a family of 4 and grew up in the town of
Hammond, In right outside the city of Chicago. Known as the “Sunshine
Boy” in his family, Phil was always looking to put a smile on someone’s
face with laughter and encouragement.
As a son of a preacher, his weekly routine mostly involved going to church.
Whether it was a bus route to invite kids to church, cleaning under the
pews or learning to play the drums and saxophone to join the church band,
church was the avenue where Phil found and expressed his gifts. As a
young man he followed in his father’s footstep and began to preach. He
would travel to churches across the country and become well known in his
denomination for passionate preaching and a sensitive spirit to worship.
Then while preaching in a church in Michigan, Phil laid eyes on his future
wife Jeannie Coffey. A California girl from Huntington Beach, Jeannie
was the worship director. From their first date was at Bob’s Big boy (big
spender), to letter correspondents and long distance relationship, Phil and
Jeannie were engage and married within a year. They both continued to
travel and speak.
Then in 1984, Phil and Jeannie move back to Jeannie’s hometown of
Huntington Beach, CA, where knew they were always called to plant and
pastor a church. Not long after the move they had their first church service
in the living room of Odie Coffey, Jeannie’s dad. With family and friends
the journey of Life Church began with Jeannie leading in songs at the piano
and Phil preaching the mandate for Life Church.
Now 25 years later Life Church is still beacon of life to Orange County. The
dynamic worship and passionate word is what Life Church is known for.
Weekly people gathering to hear an inspiring and encouraging word from a
man who never holds back in passion.
Phil also have a passion to encourage and uplift others, particularly to
Pastors. He serves in multiple capacities to ministries like- Joel Osteen’s
Director of Champions Network- a network of pastors working together
across the world getting people plugged into local churches, GodChasers,
Integrity Leadership Ministries and more.
Phil and Jeannie currently reside in Modjeska Canyon and have three
children, Kara, Phillip II, Andrew and son-in-law Doug Bisel and are Papa
and Mimi to grandchildren Declan & Peyton.
106
107
Have you taken your Passion-Pulse lately? Join
Phil Munsey and explore what it takes to live
the life you know you want to live. It’s time to
stop letting life happen to you and start seeing
life work for you. Maybe you lost your passion,
or maybe you’ve never found it–it’s time to get
it back in full force!
“Phil Munsey is a godly man, a great
pastor, and a dear friend. His life has
impacted our community and me personally.” - Rick Warren, Senior Pastor,
Saddleback Church
108
Phil is the senior
pastor at Life Church
in Irvine, California,
which he and his wife
Jeannie founded in
1985. Phil is passionate
about developing passionate people!
He travels as a
conference speaker,
working with pastors
and teachers. He is
the president of Joel
Osteen’s Church
Champions Network.
Phil and Jeannie have
been married for 30
years and have 3 adult
children, a son-in-law
and two amazing
grandchildren.

Passion - Lifetogether

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