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westwoodcc.orgChanhassen • 952.224.7300 Minnetonka • 952.224.7400
January 1, 2017
Sunday Service TimesChanhassen
8:15, 9:30, 11:00am & 5:00pm
Minnetonka 9:30 & 11:00am
Live with open hands...and be awakened, be prepared and
be a blessing. For stories of God at work in and through the
people of Westwood visit westwoodcc.org/stories
Many people describe Christianity by one adjective–”boring.” But
what if God was building a wave and inviting you and me to surf it? Join us for this sermon series
as we see how God’s power transformed early followers of
Jesus and how He does the same in our lives today.
January 8–April 16
Is this your first time here? So glad you came!
Welcome to Westwood! If you are unfamiliar with the flow of our service, here’s the scoop: We begin with a few worship songs. The lyrics are found on the big screens. The songs are followed by a couple announcements, a time of prayer and offering. The sermon message is given, and the service typically concludes with a song.
Stop by the Info Spot before or after the service. We’d love to meet you, answer any questions you have, and give you some handy information. For kids and students, we offer great programs specially tailored to their ages. Our Westwood Kids’ desk would be glad to help you. Come, let’s give our love to God, who first loved us.
WATCH WESTWOOD SERVICES | WESTWOODCC.ORG/LIVEFOR CAMPUS SPECIFIC EVENTS, VISIT WESTWOODCC.ORG
Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may make it known as I should. 5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
Welcome to Westwood!Colossians 4:2–6 (NET)
• We are to ____________________ upwards to God.
• We are to ____________________ inwards to community.
• We are to ____________________ outwards to those outside the faith.
Practice for the new year: Live into the ____________________ of ____________________ ,
____________________ and ____________________ .
Making the Most of Our New Year
FIND YOUR PLACE IN A SMALL GROUP HERE
In small groups we get to form friendships, share struggles and offer support, and grow in our faith in ways we wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Group Connect is our way to help you find and form a group that works for you. Won’t you join us? Register online.
If you are not able to attend the entire session, but are interested in a small group, please contact Lisa at lisa.nebel@westwoodcc.org or use our GroupSearch feature at westwoodcc.org/groupsearch.
Group Connect - Chanhassen Campus Saturday, January 28, 9:00am–11:30pm, Woodside Room
Group Connect - Minnetonka Campus Sunday, January 29, 12:30–1:45pm, Room M-2
I COME HERE ON SUNDAYS BUT WHAT’S NEXT?
Wondering how to get involved at Westwood? Wonder no more! We’d love to help you find your starting point, whether that’s connecting in a small group, taking a class that will grow you in your faith, or sharing your talents through serving. WHAT’S NEXT is a great starting point. If you have kids, they are welcome to be a part of Kids’ programs (birth–grade 5) while you attend. Register online.
Chanhassen Campus Sunday, January 15, 9:30–10:45am, Room A205
Minnetonka Campus Sunday, January 15, 11:00am–12:00pm, Room M-2
Westwood buildings will be closed January 2.
01.01.2017 Zac Bush
___________
___________ ___________
Making the Most of Our New Year Live into the Rhythm of Up, In, and Out.
Colossians 4:2-‐6 1. 45% of Americans usually make resolutions, whereas 38% absolutely never make resolutions. Are
you a person who typically makes resolutions for the New Year? If so, what are your resolutions? If you don’t, why don’t you make resolutions?
2. Read Colossians 4:2-‐6. These are some of Paul’s last words and commands to the believers in
Colossae. What are some initial observations? Why do you think he chooses to finish up his letter with these commands? What do you think Paul is communicating here?
3. Paul commands them right away in verse two, claiming “be devoted in prayer” (or some translations
might say “continue steadfastly in prayer”). The word “devoted” is an important word. Take a look at some other places this word occurs:
• Acts 2:42 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
• Acts 8:13 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he continued with Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
• Romans 12:2 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
What would you say is the meaning of this word devoted? Can you come up with a definition? How does this word and idea play into our prayer lives?
4. Next, we see Paul encourage them “to pray for us also.” Paul always had people in his corner. In their book Transformational Groups, Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger researched the importance of small groups on an individual’s faith journey.1 They asked Christians the following questions:
Question Did not attend a group
Attended a group at least 4 times a month
“I intentionally spend time with other believers in order to help them grow in their faith.” 22% 63% (+41%)
“I am intentionally putting my spiritual gift(s) to use serving God and others.” 42% 73% (+31%)
“I read the Bible every day or a few times a week.” 27% 67% (+40%)
“I pray for my church and/or church leaders every day or a few times a week.” 30% 64% (+34%)
With these statistics in mind, how has this group made a difference on your faith journey? 5. Reread 4:3-‐6. Paul now shifts his focus from inside the church to outside the church. He encourages
the Colossians to pray towards outsiders. What would you say makes up a full prayer to those
1 Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger, Transformational Groups: Creating a New Scorecard for Groups, Nashville, TN: Lifeway Research, 2014, 41-‐43.
outside the church? (Perhaps a two-‐pronged prayer, that 1) a door would be open for the word, [see verse three] and that 2) he may make it clear [see verse four]). Do you have someone you can pray this over? Perhaps a family member, a co-‐worker, or a neighbor? How can you focus your life outwards to love those outside the church?
Much of this week’s sermon focused on individual’s and living into a New Year Rhythm. However, the beauty of the topic is that it can be applied to a small group as well. Many of the principles can be utilized for a deeper and fuller small group experience. 6. Take a look at the triangle below. It’s a helpful tool for a small group “diagnostic test.” How as a
small group can we properly balance this rhythm of up, in, and out? Are we in balance or out of balance? Do we overemphasize some areas and underemphasize other areas?
7. How can we, as a small group, encourage one another this year to live into this rhythm? (Some suggestions can include accountability in prayer or scripture reading? Is it one-‐member memorizing scripture with another member? Is it serving together? Can we take a missions trip together?)
Up
In Out
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