Church Hurt

Mesa Church

Church Hurt

February 5, 2023 • 1 John 4

Many people are leaving “the church” because of “church hurt.” It’s a real thing! I will likely never understand why Jesus left us with such an important community to manage. Most of the time, it comes down to teaching, application of that teaching, and a failure to love like Jesus. So, how can WE, since we are the church, live with God loving through us? How can we learn from these experiences to become a safe community for people to grow in their relationship with Jesus?

TALK ABOUT IT - Questions to GROW through with family, friends, & myself.

1. Have I ever experience “church hurt?” Was I responsible in any way?

2. What are three expectations I need to live out in order to be a safe place for others to call home?

3. Which of the three exceptions do I struggle to live out the most? Why?

4. What would happen within our churches if we loved each other like Jesus loves us?

5. PRAYER: “Father, help us to discern deception, get the order of God’s love right, & love without fear.”

For Our Kids

March 5, 2023 • Jordan Hansen • 3 John, John 14:6, Matthew 6:21, Matthew 5:16

Raising a child is no easy task. Shaping and influencing the next generation of followers of Jesus is no simple process. Our kids are faced with challenges in their personal lives, but also the dangers and threats of living in a world that does not know God. If all of our parenting could be summarized into a few values, what would those values be? What do we want for our kids? The shortest book in the entire Bible has a lot of punch packed into 15 total verses. TALK ABOUT IT - Questions to GROW through with family, friends, & myself. 1. What were the most important lessons our parents or grandparents taught us in life? 2. What do we want our kids to learn from us? If we could only teach them 3 things, what would they be? 3. What does John’s conflict with Diotrephes lead him to teach Gaius in this letter? 4. How will I help my kids, or the next generation, to know Jesus and to follow him with their whole hearts? 5. PRAYER: “Father, help us to raise the next generation to know you and to live for you and your mission on this Earth!”

Embracing The Challenge

February 26, 2023 • Pete Campbell • 2 John

It's not always easy to face challenges in life, but it's important to remember that we can't always control what happens to us. What we can control is how we react to those challenges. Do we let them harden our hearts or do we let them make us more compassionate? If we can learn to love God and others despite the challenges we face, we will be much better off in the long run. TALK ABOUT IT - Questions to GROW through with family, friends, & myself. 1. How does life’s challenges & struggles reveal what I truly believe? 2. What are my reactions & thoughts towards compromising situations & mindsets that I’m not ready for? 3. In what ways have I allowed life's challenges to harden my heart? 4. What can you do to develop thick skin when it comes to my faith? 5. In what ways can you become a friend of sinners? Think of a couple things you can do this week to love people while embracing the challenge.

Get Out Of The Way!

February 19, 2023 • 1 John 5:13–21, Exodus 34:14, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:34, Romans 8:26–27

Prayer. What is the point? What makes us selfish in our evangelism is often times proved in our prayer lives. If God answered all of our prayers, would the world change, or just OUR world? As John comes to a conclusion, He wants His spiritual family to KNOW they can have confidence in their prayers to God. As believers, we have access to the God of all Creation, Jesus in the flesh, who desires to move. Confidant prayer moves us out of His way. What confident prayers move us out of the way? TALK ABOUT IT - Questions to GROW through with family, friends, & myself. 1. How would I describe my prayer life? Do my prayers move me out of the way for God to move? 2. What kind of prayers please God? How does “the Lord’s prayer” please God? 3. Do I pray for people in my life to experience the true God, Jesus who IS eternal life? Why / why not? 4. What modern day idols have the most access to tempt me? How does God help me? 5. PRAYER: “Father, give me the confidence to pray bold prayers that move me out of the way for you to move!”