^ Click Take A Note ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.

1.

Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)

2. Wise Council/Counsel

Proverbs 11:14

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 15:22

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 24:6

By wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Let's start by looking at the Nicene Creed from the Nicaea Council that met in 325 AD and then updated the Creed in 381 AD. Just read the 381 AD version and see what the wisdom of many coming together accomplished as they sought the Lord to provide clear direction for the church. ⬇️ LINK BELOW ⬇️ (Group Discussion)

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about what the Jerusalem Council accomplished in Acts 15. He shared how the issue wasn't just local but actually global as the church was deciding between a faith that required a Jewish culture or a faith that would be relentlessly committed to a Jesus culture. As the Apostles came together with church Elders, Pharisees, Deacons, Church Planters & Missionaries there was wisdom in the multitude on counselors. There was still a need for headship & authority as we see in James making the final determination but the process and importance of having a "Wise Council" can't be overstated.

How is "Wise Counsel" working in your life? What types of decisions are you bringing others into in your life? What types of decisions are you making alone and why? Who get's to sit at the table in your life and affect the direction you decide to take? Would you consider the group you engage with around decisions to be a "Wise Council" that could help to guide others as well? (Each Individual)

CHALLENGE: Create a personal council. Write down a list of 3-5 people and why you want them in your council then text them about a decision you need to make and ask them if they have any thoughts or advice and ask them to pray for you.

3. The Jesus Culture

Acts 15:8-11

8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Acts 15:19-20

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

God always intended His church to be global and therefore diverse. The expressions of worship would be just as numerous and diverse as the people groups spanning the globe but at the same time there would also need to be distinctives that clearly identified all of the groups as "Christian".

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn drew our attention to the 3 Non-Negotiable distinctives that the Jerusalem Council communicated to the growing population of Gentile (Non-Jewish) followers of Jesus. The 3 groups are summarized below:

1. Idolatry (Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, mind, & strength...)

2. Sexuality (Intimacy, union, commitment, covenant, relationship.

This is connected to Idolotry ⬆️ and Blood/Life ⬇️)

3. Blood/Life/Humanity (and love your neighbor as yourself.

A value of life that shows you understand all people are image bearers)

This is the Jesus Culture Christ showed us and expects us to walk in as we follow Him. How have you evaluated what is an appropriate Christian lifestyle or way of behaving? How have you decided what is the right way to do church or the wrong way? How can we as a local church be sure to live out a true Jesus Culture? How does our understanding of a true Jesus Culture affect the way we share Jesus with non-believers as we invite them to church or life group or anything else we do? (Group Discussion)

* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!