A NOTE FROM DAVID
dear
NCC FAMILY & FRIENDS,
Just one year ago, we stepped into a catalytic, once-in-a-decade moment—a bold and faith-filled journey unlike anything we’ve ever undertaken as a church. With prayerful hearts and open hands, we launched our One More Vision Initiative!
Now, we are at the midpoint—the work is unfinished, but we know God is still moving. He’s not done with us. He’s not done with NCC.
This is a movement of Vision, Generosity, and Disciplieship. Our deepest desire is for 100% participation—for every person who calls NCC home to be part of this life-changing season. We don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to go deeper with Jesus and be part of what He’s doing.
We’ve seen God move in powerful ways— lives changed, hearts awakened, and new stories of faith written. And yet, we believe the best is still ahead.
That’s why we’ve created this guide—not just as a roadmap for the year ahead, but as a spiritual companion for your journey. Inside, you’ll find questions to reflect on, scriptures to meditate on, and space to record what God is speaking to you. Our hope is that this guide, paired with your prayer life, becomes a catalyst to help you deepen your relationship with Him.
No matter where you are in your walk with God—whether you’re just beginning or have been following Him for decades—know this: He’s not done with you. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that, "He who began a GOOD WORK
in you will CARRY IT on to completion.
"
And Ephesians 3:20 declares, "God is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine."
This means your most impactful, transformative, and joyfilled days may still be ahead.
As we shift from One More to Everyone, we’re declaring NCC is not just for the next person—it’s for every person. Half-way through, we are unfinished. Not just projects but as His followers, as His church. But Unstoppable because when God is at work in His church, even the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against it!
This next season will be marked by unprecedented compassion in us, unlimited hope through us, and uncompromising faith among us. We believe God will do something in us, through us, and among us that will ripple far beyond the 99 Corridor.
One of the greatest honors of my life is to walk this journey with you. Let’s keep pressing forward—unfinished, yes, but absolutely unstoppable.
Serving Together, David
"NOW
TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO
immeasurably
more THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US..."
EPHESIANS 3:20 (NIV)
where WE'VE been...
TIGARD CAMPUS
In 1959, 26 ordinary people signed a charter for a new church. And they didn’t play it safe. They took major faith steps—from hiring a 21 year old Bible college student as their founding pastor, LeRoy Lawson, to buying a 3 acre filbert/hazelnut farm, turning a chicken coop into a missionary cottage, and a barn into a youth center, into saying we want to continue to transform the 99 Corridor and beyond for Jesus. That faith eventually became Northwest Christian Church Tigard.
MCMINNVILLE CAMPUS
In 1968, a group of ordinary, faith-filled people decided to be a light in McMinnville. They launched a church not with fanfare, but with faith. They held their first meetings in the home of Rob and Joyce Crump, with daughter Margie playing the small family organ. Families like the Greens, Andersons, Dancers and Reinhardts were part of the 20 or so families who joined in over the first few months, and together the group connected with God and others, and grew in their relationships—vertical and horizontal. People started finding Jesus, were being baptized, and were growing in their faith. That spark eventually became Northwest Christian Church McMinnville.
NEWBERG CAMPUS
In 1907, a group of 34 faithful pioneers—ordinary people with extraordinary trust—became charter members of a church in Newberg. They relocated, built some more, served inside and outside the church walls. While their location changed, their mission stayed the same – to love God, love people, and make disciples. They continue to serve the community locally and globally through Community Kitchen, a food pantry, after school programs, recovery programs, counseling, foster care and special needs support, and missions in Mexico, Honduras, Kenya and more. In 2019 Newberg Chrisitan Church merged with Tigard Christian Church, Adventure Christian Church and West Hills Christian Church to become Northwest Christian Church.
ONLINE CAMPUS
In 2019, NCC launched an online expression creating the ability to connect people digitally. In 2020, Northwest Christian Church added an Online Campus to become 1 church in 4 locations. With the 2020 global shut down as a result of the Covid pandemic, the need arose to connect people remotely through technology even more. Offering online worship services as well as life groups, NCC's online campus continues to use technology to spread the gospel and connect others with Jesus.
what WE set out to do...
OUR PRIMARY GOAL
100% PARTICIPATION
This means ALL of US...100% of those who call NCC home will engage with God in this new season of extraordinary Vision, Generosity, and Discipleship by embracing all three of these shared Commitments together...
expressing
UNCOMPROMISING faith
Now to Him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
EPHESIANS 3:20-21 NIV
Over 100 baptisms across all four campuses as of August 2025!
Broke ground for new construction projects at all campuses!
First annual "Rides for a Reason" Car Show raised $14K for student missions trips
Scan Here To See
One More Stories
Hosted 11 Summer Jam events serving over 750 children!
what GOD
Partnered with A-dec & George Fox University to break ground on Northwest Early Learning Academy (NELA)
Record attendance at all our Easter Services!
has
Welcomed over 2K from the community at our Summer Jam Carnival
Welcomed 382 children at Summer Camps
A record 242 students attended Christ In Youth conferences and Mexico Mission Trip
85 College Students joined us for George Fox University Serve Day
Served 8 schools through The Zone and MyZone after school programs
15 public schools served on Serve Day!
done in 2025 GOD
Hosted our 10th Annual SHINE event with over 190 guests and 250 volunteers!
15,684 Meals Served At Community Kitchen!
MINISTRY & MISSIONS updates
New Missions Updates and Expressions of Generosity
• Mission of Hope - Camp Angaza - $50,000 has been raised and will be delivered in 2026.
• Container Project - Gerry Lefebvre has begun working with a cohort of GFU engineering students and their professor to detail the designs for the modifications the containers will receive from NCC volunteers at each campus this Spring, with hopes of shipping the containers in the Summer of 2026.
• Church Plant in Michoacan, Mexico - Planning site visit for early 2026.
• Missions Intern - Still pursuing potentials with hopes of adding this team member soon.
• Spring Break HS Mission - Over $14,000 raised through "Rides for a Reason" to send students and support construction of new homes.
New Ministry Updates and Expressions of Generosity
• Online Campus - Pastor hired - Dustin Gallup, and Studio Upgrades completed.
• After School Programs - Continue to expand with our $369,000 ARPA grant and additional $180,000 grant support from the Austin Family Foundation.
• Northwest Early Learning Academy -
- Over $3 million in partner/grant support committed.
- New Executive Director hired - Sarah Compton.
- The partnership with A-dec/GFU/NCC has won an Innovation in Philanthropy Award from the Portland Business Journal.
• Food Insecurity Response Programs - Received an additional $25,000 grant to assist in increasing our service to our community including Community Kitchen, our Pantry, and Weekend Food Bags.
• Medical Appointment and Hospital Transportation Services - Received $58,000 grant from Providence Foundation to expand our transportation services.
• Support Workshops - Mental Health, Parenting and Educational Support Workshops have begun.
• Young Staff Training - We have one Resident and two Interns now working with our Student Ministry Team.
campus project
AT OUR McMINNVILLE CAMPUS
• Security Camera Project - Completed
• New Playground Install - In Progress
• New Restrooms and Lobby Expansion - In Design and Plan Review Stage
• Pantry Relocation - In Design and Plan Review Stage
• New "West-Side Drive" - In Design and Plan Review Stage
• New Community Life Center, Commercial Kitchen and Children's RestroomsGroundbreaking Summer of 2026
AT OUR TIGARD CAMPUS
• Worship Venue Lighting UpgradeCompleted
• Children's Playground RelocationCompleted
• New Restrooms and Lobby Expansion - In Progress
• New Security Camera System - In Progress
• ADA Ramp - Coming next Spring
• New Community Life Center/Commercial Kitchen and Rec Field - Groundbreaking Summer of 2026
UNFINISHED BUT UNSTOPPABLE
UPDATES
AT OUR NEWBERG CAMPUS
• Interim Pre-school PlaygroundCompleted
• Storage Connex Containers - In Place and Operative
• New Pantry Expansion - In Progress
• Patio Plaza - In Progress
• Children's Building Site Development and Permitting - In Progress
• Modular Removed
• Playground Removed
• Grading has Begun
• Planning Permit Received - Building Permit in Progress
AT OUR ONLINE CAMPUS
• Completion of Filming Studio
• Hired an Online Campus Pastor - Dustin Gallup
what's YOUR role
Pray FOR YOUR ONE MORE FOR NCC’S VISION FOR THE 99 CORRIDOR AND BEYOND
Serve (Faith in Action)
NCC MINISTRIES
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Invite
SPECIAL EVENTS: FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL, CHRISTMAS EVE, ETC.
THURSDAY NIGHT CHURCH
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES
Give TIME
TITHES
TALENT (SEE SERVE)
This is a FAITH STEP for sure!
OFFERINGS ONE MORE GIVING
The work is UNFINISHED and God is still calling us to reach EVERYONE. If you are NEW or were unable to make a commitment, we invite you to make a first time commitment. If you have already joined us, thank you for RENEWING or OUTDOING your commitment.
October 2025 - December 2026 New or Updated Commitment Total
Please contact us at onemore@mynw.cc to learn more about ways to give stored-up or non-liquid resources as a means to fulfill your commitment and expand God’s Kingdom!
Let US continue to...
PRAY EARNESTLY
Pray that God will work in the hearts of Northwest people and that we will listen with the intent to obey. Pray, “God, what is the part You want me to play for One More?"
COMMIT FULLY
The goal is that 100% of the Northwest family would say, “I’m personally committed to using my resources, influence, and energy to be a force for Jesus’ GOOD in the world.”
CHEER LOUDLY
God is going to do remarkable things in your life and the life of our church during this season. Spread the Good News! Celebrate it loudly! Be a cheerleader for One More!
GIVE GENEROUSLY
Ask God to reveal to you how to give in a way that changes you and shows you are all in for One More. Then take whatever bold steps are required to see it through.
Message Series Study Guide
week1
NOTES UNFINISHED FOLLOWERS...
SCRIPTURE
I am certain that GOD , who BEGAN the good work within you, will CONTINUE His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
- Philippians 1:6
One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there.
- Genesis 11:31
The Lord had said to Abram, " LEAVE your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and GO to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will BLESS you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. ALL the families on earth will be BLESSED through you." So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
- Genesis 12:1-4
I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants ALL the nations of the earth will be BLESSED
- Genesis 26:4
study
week1 GUIDE
CONNECT
• What’s your go-to fall comfort food? Pumpkin spice: love it, tolerate it, or avoid it?
• Can you share a time when you felt like you were on a journey but weren't quite there yet? How did you handle the waiting or uncertainty?
GROW
• What does it mean to be unfinished in your spiritual journey? How does the promise in Phillippians 1:6 encourage you in your faith?
• What was significant about God's call to Abram (later Abraham) in Genesis 12:1-3? How does Abram's willingness to leave his homeland demonstrate his faith and trust in God?
• Discuss the idea of closing your eyes and taking God's hand as mentioned in the sermon. Reflect on areas in your life where you need to trust God more fully. If you’re willing—share with the group.
• How can we avoid settling in our spiritual journey like Abram's family did in stopping halfway to their destination?
APPLICATION
• Is there any area in your spiritual life in which you may have become comfortable or complacent? What would it look like to continue moving forward?
• Discuss how God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others. How does this perspective challenge the way we view and use our resources?
• What blessings (time, talents, resources) are you currently holding onto that God might want you to use to bless others?
week2
UNFINISHED TRUST... study
SCRIPTURE
Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “ DO NOT BE AFRAID , Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all Your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since You’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
And Abram BELIEVED the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”
The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a threeyear-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.”
After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the Lord made a COVENANT with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
- Genesis 15:1-21
NOTES
GUIDE
CONNECT
• What’s your favorite fall scent—cinnamon, bonfire, crisp leaves, or something else?
• If you could move anywhere in the world without any worries, where would you go and why?
• What's the most creative excuse you've ever used to get out of a tricky situation?
GROW
• What do you think about the phrase—trusting God involves times of testing? How did Abram’s journey illustrate the concept of trusting God through testing?
• Why do you think God often uses difficult circumstances rather than immediate blessings to build our faith?
• What’s your understanding of Covenant? What does the covenant in Genesis 15 reveal about God’s commitment to Abram and to us?
APPLICATION
• How does understanding God’s commitment help us to trust Him more?
• Discuss the concept that God can do the impossible and often calls us to do the impractical.
• What are some barriers that keep you from fully trusting God?
week3
UNFINISHED PRIORITIES... study
SCRIPTURE
So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.)
- Genesis 13:1-2
But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.
-Genesis 13:6-13
Then the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) prepared for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea. They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. As it happened, the valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains.
- Genesis 14:8-10
NOTES
GUIDE
3
CONNECT
• What’s a childhood memory that always comes to mind in the fall?
• If you had to move tomorrow and could only take 3 items with you, what would they be and why?
• Abram let Lot choose the land first, showing his priorities. Can you share a time when you let someone else have the first choice, and how did it turn out?
GROW
• Priorities shape our decisions. What's one priority you have that might surprise others? How does it influence your daily life?
• Discuss the decision-making process of Abram and Lot. What were their priorities? How did these priorities affect their lives?
• Abram and Lot's wealth actually caused conflict between their herdsmen, demonstrating that abundance does not automatically create peace. Why is this?
• Are there any areas in your life where you found that having more didn't necessarily solve your problems?
APPLICATION
• Looking at Genesis 13:8-13, what does Abram's decision to let Lot choose first reveal about his character and priorities compared to Lot's?
• When making important life decisions, how do you balance practical considerations with spiritual priorities?
week4
UNFINISHED SURRENDER... study
SCRIPTURE
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” -Genesis 22:1-14
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. - Hebrews 11:17-19
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. -Romans 12:1
NOTES
GUIDE
CONNECT
• What is one thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “surrender”?
• Share a time when you had to trust God with something precious to you. How did you feel, and what was the outcome?
GROW
• What stands out to you most about Abraham's journey of faith leading up to the sacrifice of Isaac? How do you think Abraham felt when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac? How might you have responded in his position?
• What is your personal "Isaac" - something precious that God may be asking you to surrender - and what makes it difficult to let go?
• What does Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac reveal about his faith in God? Hebrews 11:19 suggests Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. How does this perspective change your understanding of Abraham's faith?
• How does Romans 12:1 challenge our understanding of what it means to be a "living sacrifice," and what might this look like in practical terms in our daily lives?
• How might the call to be a living sacrifice challenge our current lifestyle or priorities? Can you identify any specific areas in your life where you struggle to live out this form of worship?
APPLICATION
• Read John 3:16. In what ways does the story of Abraham and Isaac foreshadow Jesus' sacrifice, and how does this connection deepen your appreciation of God's plan for salvation?
• How can the group pray for you to experience God’s care in this area of life? How has God shown His care to you recently-even in small ways?
week5
UNFINISHED BELIEF... study
SCRIPTURE
FAITH shows the reality of what we HOPE for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. - Hebrews 11:1
Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
“Should I hide My plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. Abraham approached Him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? Suppose You find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will You still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? Surely You wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, You would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely You wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will You destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
“Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue— suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
When the Lord had finished His conversation with Abraham, He went on His way, and Abraham returned to his tent. - Genesis 16:33
But you will receive power when the HOLY SPIRIT comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. - Acts 1:14
NOTES
GUIDE
CONNECT
• Which fall emoji best represents your mood today: ���������� ?
• If you could make one positive change in our community, what would it be and why?
GROW
• Read Genesis 18:16-33. Discuss Abraham's boldness in interceding for Sodom. What does this teach us about prayer and advocacy?
• If you were negotiating with God like Abraham did, what would be your starting number for saving your favorite city—name city and why?
• Talk about God's patience and justice. How does this shape our understanding of God’s character?
• Read and discuss the mission given by Jesus in Acts 1:8,14. How does this mission apply to us today? What does it mean to be witnesses in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth?
APPLICATION
• Abraham demonstrated commitment by interceding for Sodom. What are some common obstacles that prevent us from fully committing to God or to our community? What are some ways can we overcome these challenges?
• What are some practical ways we can be a blessing to our community, especially to those who might be marginalized or in need?
• What are some things that have encouraged you to take a step of faith? How can we encourage each other in taking steps of faith, even when the outcome is uncertain?
week6
UNFINISHED COMMITMENT... study
SCRIPTURE
FAITH shows the reality of what we HOPE for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
- Hebrews 11:1
It was by FAITH that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by FAITH —for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
It was by FAITH that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep His promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
- Hebrews 11:8-16
For we live by BELIEVING and not by seeing.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and LOOKING FORWARD to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
- Philippians 3:13-14
NOTES
GUIDE
6
CONNECT
• Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions in your family? If you could start a new one, what would it be?
• What's one thing you're especially thankful for this year. Why?
• If you had to choose one thing that you are most committed to in your life right now, what would it be and why?
GROW
• How does what we are committed to reveal our true identity?
• In what ways can our time, talent, and treasure commitments reflect our faith?
• Talk about the difference between Cain and Abel's offerings in Genesis 4- one gave first and best, while the other gave leftovers. How does this happen? How does this principle apply to modern Christian living? Are there any areas of your life you might be giving God the leftovers rather than your first and best?
APPLICATION
• How does the story of Alexander the Great marching off the map parallel the Christian journey of faith? What maps of comfort and security might God be asking you to step beyond?
• According to Hebrews 11:8-16, Abraham never saw the full fulfillment of God's promises in his lifetime. How does this challenge our modern expectations of faith and commitment? What legacy of faith are you building that might impact generations beyond your own lifetime?
