ORDINARY DAY WITH JESUS



ORDINARY DAY WITH JESUS

Based on the study by John Ortberg and Ruth Haley Barton, available through Willow Creek Resources

Lesson Nine: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

November 19, 2006

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

Giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17

You can use the text of this message to fill in the blanks in your participant’s guide! Page numbers for the guide are referenced in bold; sentences from the guide are in bold, with answers supplied in all caps and underlined.

(SLIDE) just indicates my transitions in the powerpoint presentation. Please ignore these markings—I hope they don’t inconvenience you.

Please e-mail me (Pastor Brenda) at brenda@ with any comments, questions, or suggestions.

Review: Video—“Making the Ordinary Extraordinary”

The One Thing:

(SLIDE) God makes our ordinary lives extraordinary. We experience this most fully when we…

• BELIEVE (openness) that experiencing the reality of God in our everyday lives is really possible.

• DESIRE to live this kind of life.

• DECIDE, day after day, moment after moment, to DO what our desires require—to follow Jesus, to be disciples.

DISCOVERY—Are you equipped for the race?

Do you have the three things needed for the next steps…

• (SLIDE) BELIEF (openness) that experiencing the reality of God in your everyday life is really possible for you. (Page 100)

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...” (Hebrews 10:23-24)

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Do you wonder if this hope is for you?

“The Kingdom of God is near.” (Mark 1:15)

“This is my body, broken for YOU. This is my blood, shed for YOU.”

• (SLIDE) DESIRE to live this kind of life.

Hebrews 11—a list of ordinary people who became heroes by trusting God to do extraordinary things. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Samuel, and many, many more stepped out on spiritual adventures when God said, “Come!” So did Paul…

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…” (Philippians 3:8)

“…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12b, 13b-14)

• (SLIDE) DECISION/s, day after day, moment after moment, to DO what our desires require—to follow Jesus, to be disciples. (Page 101)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [the folks who have hoped and followed before us—Hebrews 11], let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Almost 20 years ago, I was jogging on a sunny Friday afternoon during one of my get in shape seasons. I remember thinking: “I could run at this speed forever.” At that point, I came to BELIEVE jogging a marathon was possible for me.

But I didn’t want to run a marathon—I thought it would be bad for my body! In fact, two years ago this week is the first time I actually DESIRED to run—with René when she needed a partner. But I couldn’t. I had to preach! About 18 months ago, I first DESIRED to run for my own sake.

So I began to make DECISIONS. I bought the book. I chose a training plan—decided to do what I could do today so that eventually I could run 26.2 miles. I set a goal—to finish without hurting myself. I learned about nutrition, shoes, rest and recovery; I learned about chiropractors and massage therapists, and about running on sunny days when it was fun and running in the rain and wind when I didn’t want to leave the house.

Next Sunday I will run my third marathon because I BELIEVED it was possible, DESIRED to do it, and made the DECISIONS it takes to finish the race.

And now I know that this is how we come to run the race of faith.

And I know it’s worth it.

Two Things to Keep in Mind:

(SLIDE) 1. Do not be defeated by failure. (Page 104) We’re not heading for perfection—we’re racing toward Jesus, toward forgiveness and love FOR US first, then THROUGH US for others. Our fellow racer in Hebrews knows how hard is your road when he writes,

“For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart…” (Hebrews 12:2b-3)

Some of you are barely making it out of bed in the morning to put one foot in front of the other. Take heart. If it’s all you can do, then stumble with Jesus Calvary’s hill. Know when you fall, that he falls beside you. Know when you rise, there is new life ahead, joy is set before you. You can dare to hope.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children…Our parents disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:7a, 10-11)

This is a hard hope, but it is truly hopeful: Hardship—even weeks, months, or years of it—does not mean God is against you. God is FOR YOU—he proves in Jesus that nothing you have ever done, nothing you could ever do can separate you from his love. (Romans 8) Forgiveness, new life—FOR YOU.

So “look at hardship as discipline.” Don’t question God’s love or God’s presence. In hard times, don’t question if you’ve done something wrong and beat yourself up about it. “Forget what lies behind,” and look at hardship as spiritual training that reveals your present sin/weakness so you can bring it to God for healing.

Athletic training tears muscle tissue so that it heals stronger before. Think of hardship as strength training and long miles that tear down your spiritual muscles so that God can heal and build them up stronger than before.

And (SLIDE) 2. Look for “burning bushes.” Expect God to do unexpected things.

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:1-2)

The One Thing:

(SLIDE) God makes our ordinary lives extraordinary. We experience this most fully when we…

• BELIEVE (openness) that experiencing the reality of God in our everyday lives is really possible.

• DESIRE to live this kind of life.

• DECIDE, day after day, moment after moment, to DO what our desires require—to follow Jesus, to be disciples.

Challenge:

(SLIDE) Come and see Jesus! Taste and see that the Lord is Good! Run with perseverance the race marked out before us!

• Take what you’ve learned and imagine an ordinary (extraordinary?) day with Jesus. (Participant Guide, pages 102-103) Consider what is your current goal and how you’re going to train for the race—what will you do to achieve it?

• Respond to God’s invitations through this course with a “Letter to God,” (Participant Guide, page 105, or bulletin pages ____)

• Wednesday—this week off. Conclusion November 29, noon, brown bag.

Summary. (Previous messages and additional resources available at Trinity’s website— see sermons\ordinary day)

(SLIDE) Jesus’ words are for you: “Come and see!” It’s really possible—God can make your ordinary life extraordinary! Friends, let your desire for peace and for challenge lead you to take another step, and make the everyday decisions it takes to follow Jesus more closely.

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will Live in Jesus’ Name—the power and presence of Jesus’ Spirit surrounds and fills you. Forest path, “I am the Way…”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will train to be more loving in your Everyday Relationships: Vine, “We love because he first loved us.”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will join God in God’s work of caring for yourself, others, and this world. Everybody works! Work: City, “My Father is always at his work…”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will hear the Spirit’s voice. Leadings: Phone, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will take time you need with your delighted parent, your devoted lover, your Lord. Solitude: Signs, “Stop, look, listen.” (The one thing needful.)

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will connect with God in the natural, enjoyable strengths God built in to you, your Spiritual Pathways: Road through trees, “The truth shall set you free.”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will understand that things will never slow down, but you can! Pace of Life: Seashore, “Quiet. Be still.”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will recognize that more will never be enough, but that God has already given you more than enough! Everyday Finances: “One Servant, Two Masters.”

• (SLIDE) By the grace of God, you can and will experience the real hope, strong desires, and firm decisions that allow God to Make your Ordinary life Extraordinary through the sun and through the rain: Mountain path, “Come and See.”

“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us.” —Hebrews 12:1

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