Return to flip book view

GUIDE

THIS GUIDE BELONGS TO Name ACTS 4 31 AND WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED THE PLACE IN WHICH THEY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER WAS SHAKEN AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND CONTINUED TO SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS Email or Phone Number Please return to White Oak Christian Church Central Offices 3675 Blue Rock Rd Cincinnati OH 45247

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 Message from Lead Pastor 6 Vision Summary 7 Goals 8 BOLD Impact 10 BOLD Hope 12 BOLD Stewardship 14 Next Steps 16 Journey of a Giver 19 Gift Chart 21 FAQs 22 Messages and Life Group Guide 45 Kid and Student SHAKEN Opportunities MESSAGE FROM OUR LEAD PASTOR From the frontier beginnings in 1830 to the churches planted in India from the hundreds of children who have encountered Jesus to our neighbors who have found new hope in Jesus through our multi site strategy God has been moving boldly in and through White Oak for nearly two centuries Though my wife Denise and I have only had the privilege to serve at White Oak for the past twenty years I marvel at how God has been consistently moving through White Oak by the power of his Holy Spirit to transform Cincinnati and make impact around the world I BELIEVE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PREPARING US TO BE SHAKEN FOR ANOTHER BOLD MOVE The word shaken is interesting Often it s used to describe a negative reaction to something that leaves us in a place of discomfort or fear In God s Word shaken has another meaning as well In Acts 4 the believers pray acknowledging God s sovereign power They ask him to do such powerful works in their city They ask God to move in and through them so that they will proclaim the name of Jesus boldly As they pray the place where they were meeting was SHAKEN Not by fear but by the power of the Holy Spirit Because of those steps of trust the believers were given boldness to impact others in the name of Jesus and to give freely of themselves to the mission When we ask God to move powerfully in and through us we want him to have us SHAKEN We want to anticipate such a movement of God that our families neighbors and those on the other side of the globe are moved by his love and power For More Shaken Content Scan this QR Code or Visit SHAKENCHURCH COM The kind of trust and power that leaves us shaken to do big things for God is in White Oak s DNA I m confident that God gives us points along the path to look back upon and acknowledge his faithfulness so that we will be SHAKEN by his power to boldly move forward into our future Anticipating bold moves Nathan Hinkle 5

THE VISION SUMMARY White Oak exists to connect people to full life in Jesus We cannot just say that s our mission We have to do it We re going to show it The most important thing about our mission is that you can do it You can connect people to full life in Jesus We want to trust forward asking and anticipating God to shake up our lives and move boldly through us We want the people and places around us to not only be moved but also shaken by the power of God in their lives 6 THE PRIMARY SECONDARY 100 ENGAGEMENT 6 2 MILLION We want every single person to take their next step in following Jesus and growing in generosity If every person at White Oak takes their next step toward Jesus then our primary goal is accomplished This is a one fund initiative that simply means we are trusting God for this amount to cover all our expenses for the next two years This includes funding both our ongoing general budget and continuing ministry impact GOAL GOAL

BOLD IMPACT 3 95M WE WANT TO FUND WHITE OAK S LOCAL AND GLOBAL MINISTRY THROUGH OUR GENERAL BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS HOWEVER THIS BUDGET IS ANYTHING BUT GENERAL WHITE OAK CHRISTIAN CHURCH EXISTS IN THE WORLD TO BOLDLY SHOW JESUS TO THE WORLD WE NEED TO EXPAND STRENGTHEN AND RESOURCE WHAT WE ALREADY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT AT WHITE OAK WE SEEK TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN AND DEVELOP OUR CHILDREN S MINISTRY STUDENT S MINISTRY ADULT DISCIPLESHIP WORSHIP LOCAL OUTREACH AND GLOBAL MISSIONS WE WILL BE LASER FOCUSED ON CONNECTING OUR NEIGHBORS FRIENDS AND FAMILIES TO THEIR IDENTITY IN JESUS EQUIPPING THEM TO LOVE AND DEPLOYING THEM ON MISSION THESE MINISTRIES ARE THE BACKBONE OF WHO WE ARE AS A CHURCH AND WE WILL SEEK TO BE SHAKEN MORE THAN EVER BEFORE 8 9

BOLD HOPE 250 000 WE WILL REIMAGINE HOW WE TAKE JESUS TO OTHERS BY USING OUR PROPERTIES TO SERVE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO JESUS GOD HAS GIVEN US A LOT OF MINISTRY SPACE AT OUR COLERAIN TWP LOCATION WE WILL CREATE NEW STRATEGIES TO SERVE OUR CITY INCLUDING HOW OUR FACILITIES CAN BE UTILIZED BY OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY WE WANT TO REFURBISH OUR SPACES TO BETTER SERVE AREA MINISTRY PARTNERS WE WANT FRESH UPDATED AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES WHERE LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATIONS CAN CALL WHITE OAK HOMEBASE FROM WHICH TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED WE WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION HOW CAN OUR FACILITIES BRING HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WE WILL USE EVERY RESOURCE GOD HAS GIVEN US TO SHAKE UP THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WITH HIS LOVE AND POWER 10

BOLD STEWARDSHIP 2 0M WE WILL MOVE BOLDLY INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE BY REDUCING DEBT TO POSITION OURSELVES FOR FUTURE MINISTRY IMPACT IN EVERY SPACE WHERE WHITE OAK HAS INFLUENCE WE LEVERAGED DEBT FOR GROWTH IN ROSS TWP WHICH ENABLED US TO BUILD THE FACILITY WHERE THAT CAMPUS NOW MEETS WITH MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE IN THAT BUILDING EACH WEEKEND 135 KIDS EACH WEEK AND MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO SUBMIT THEIR LIVES TO JESUS AND BE BAPTIZED WE CELEBRATE WHAT GOD IS DOING AND WE WANT TO BE READY FOR THE NEXT THING WE HAVE INTENTIONS IN THE FUTURE OF USING THE ROSS BUILDING AND THE FIELD SPACE WE WANT EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE PLACE TO BE STEWARDED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO POINT OTHERS TO JESUS WE WILL BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT OF THE ROSS FACILITY SO THAT WE CAN USE WHAT GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO US TO GET TO WHERE HE WANTS US TO GO NEXT THE DEBT REDUCTION ISN T ABOUT BUILDINGS IT S ABOUT OUR MISSION THE BUILDING IS A TOOL THE MISSION IS CONNECTING DISCONNECTED PEOPLE TO FULL LIFE IN JESUS 12

NEXT STEPS PRAY INTENTIONALLY Pray that God would prepare people to hear from Him and that our community would take deeper steps of trust Ask God in prayer How are you inviting me to be a part of SHAKEN Pray that YOUR life is transformed through engaging in this initiative COMMIT FULLY We reach our goal of 100 engagement when everyone does their part Be an ambassador for SHAKEN and God s plan to transform our people our community and our world through it Be engaged in the SHAKEN series and in Life Group discussions about SHAKEN Invite others to be involved CELEBRATE LOUDLY God is going to do amazing things in your life during this season Share your story with other people in person and online We would love to hear your stories as well send them to us at stories thewocc com GIVE GENEROUSLY Live and give in a way that stretches you Watch how God will grow your faith through relying on Him What resources has God entrusted to you What would it look like to give in a way that changes you that transforms you Prayerfully consider what God is calling you to invest financially over the next two years 14 15

A PRIORITY GIVER Journey of a Giver This tool is designed to help a person move from money being their god to money being a tool for God s kingdom The Journey of a Giver focuses on behaviors and attitudes of our hearts rather than on amounts or percentages that we give Each step of the journey represents growth in a lifestyle of generosity and sacrifice further transforming us into the likeness of Jesus These are not steps you ascend to get to God but simply a way to evaluate your growth in generosity Scripture encourages us to grow in every facet of our walk with Christ including the grace of giving 2 Corinthians 8 7 AN INITIAL GIVER An Initial Giver is someone who decides to give for the first time out of a response to God s Word about giving This is someone who decides to give something and trust God and the leaders of the Church with this gift They experience the initial joy of putting Jesus words into action Matthew 7 24 A CONSISTENT GIVER A Consistent Giver is someone who decides to give something and to give it on a consistent basis to exercise the discipline of giving as a disciple of Jesus Often someone who decides to make their gift an online recurring gift will be someone who is learning the joy of consistency Non online givers can be consistent givers as well of course it just requires more discipline They experience the joy of excelling in this grace of giving 2 Corinthians 8 7 16 16 A Priority Giver is someone who understands the preeminence of Christ and that He is before all things that all things were created by Him for Him through Him and to Him This giver places such a significant priority on their giving that it drives their spending and their saving as opposed to their spending and saving driving their giving They experience the freedom of serving one master and declaring Jesus is first Matthew 6 19 24 and Colossians 1 15 20 A SURRENDERED GIVER A Surrendered Giver is someone who recognizes that Christ surrendered His whole self for us and therefore we desire to surrender our whole selves to Him in love Ephesians 5 1 2 This giver would say My giving is not just changing my spending and saving It s also changing me They also look at what they re not giving away and ask Is it surrendered too This informs how they use everything they ve been blessed and entrusted with whether that be through direct monetary giving or through a God honoring use of an existing resource e g honoring God with the use of your home AN ETERNAL GIVER An Eternal Giver is someone who sees the eternal impact of their giving on them and on others not just the immediate programs and ministries it helps accomplish This giver has been captivated by the knowledge that the more they are led to do good to be generous and ready to share the more they take hold of that which is truly life 1 Timothy 6 19 This encourages them to keep growing They make all decisions big purchases savings giving relationships areas of service in light of how it will affect their eternal impact 17

One fund is exciting because everyone is engaged and a part of what God is doing We are one church with one Heavenly Father who is leading and transforming us Through a one fund initiative we will invite everyone to make BOLD MOVES with their generosity regardless if you currently give or what you currently give MOVED TO BE BOLD PRIMARY GOAL SECONDARY GOAL A traditional who are 100 initiative focuses mostly on people 6 2 already giving These people are asked to continue giving Now Lord consider their ENGAGEMENT MILLION what they currently are as well as to start giving toward threats and enable your to speak your something else like aservants building orword special project WeGOD are WE WANT EVERYONE WE ARE TRUSTING with great boldness Stretch TAKE THEIR NEXT FOR THIS AMOUNT notTOdoing that with SHAKEN Instead SHAKEN will be a out your hand to heal and STEP IN FOLLOWING TO COVER ALL OUR oneJESUS fund initiative meaning ALL of our giving goes toward perform miraculous signs and AND GROWING EXPENSES FOR THE wonders through the name of two IN GENEROSITY IF NEXTyears TWO YEARS THIS our initiatives over the next your holy servant Jesus 29 30 EVERYONE ENGAGES AND TAKES THEIR NEXT STEP THEN OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS ACCOMPLISHED 2 YEAR INCLUDES FUNDING BOTH OUR ONGOING GENERAL BUDGET AND MINISTRY EXPANSION AT ALL OUR CAMPUSES THIS IS A ONE FUND INITIATIVE GENEROSITY IT S ALL ONE MISSION SO IT SwasALL ONE BUDGET where they were meeting 31 After they prayed the place with will the Holylast Spirit and The SHAKEN initiative forspoke two years 100 CHART that is the word of God boldly given to White Oak Christian Church will go to SHAKEN to 4 29 31 NIV help us furtherActsaccomplish our mission As you pray and discern how God s What I we would normally power will shake you give in a year regular giving special projects etc into bolder steps of trust and generosity during this time use My Our expanded annual generosity as part of the Shaken initiative this gift chart as a discipleship tool Let it inspire and X2 years challenge you in your next step towards greater generosity in Gifts from my our stored resources savings stocks property etc and towards Jesus MY OUR TOTAL 2 YEAR SHAKEN COMMITMENT Kingdom shaken And they were all filled DECEMBER 2022 DECEMBER 2024 TWO YEAR GENEROSITY CHART COMMITMENT CARD ONE FUND EXPLANATION As you pray and discern how God would ask you to give during this time use this generosity chart as a discipleship tool Let it inspire and challenge you towards a next step in greater generosity for Jesus Kingdom Gifts Needed Two Year Gift Level 1 500 000 250 000 20 833 500 000 3 250 000 125 000 10 417 750 000 3 150 000 75 000 6250 450 000 4 100 000 50 000 4167 400 000 5 75 000 37 500 3125 375 000 8 65 000 32 500 2708 520 000 10 50 000 25 000 2083 500 000 12 35 000 17 500 1458 420 000 18 25 000 12 500 1042 450 000 25 15 000 7 500 625 375 000 40 10 000 5 000 417 400 000 55 7 500 3 750 313 412 500 75 5 000 2 500 208 375 500 Many 2 500 1 250 104 272 000 Total Generosity Goal Annual Gift Monthly Gift Gift Level Total 6 200 000 19

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Additional questions and answers can be found by visiting SHAKENCHURCH COM or you can email Erin at efeiser thewocc com HOW LONG IS MY COMMITMENT We are asking that everyone make a two year commitment to SHAKEN The fulfillment period for your commitment will begin in December 2022 and will culminate in December 2024 I AM COMMITTING TO SHAKEN HOW DOES THIS CHANGE MY GIVING TO MISSIONS THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER SPECIAL OFFERINGS During this two year period every contribution to God through White Oak is a contribution to our SHAKEN initiative Every aspect of the ministry vision God is calling us towards for the next two years will be funded through SHAKEN There will not be separate funds Every gift made will go into the same fund and will be our SHAKEN giving Therefore every weekend becomes a day to celebrate and contribute towards what God is doing in us and through us to make bold moves ARE THERE ADDITIONAL WAYS BESIDES FINANCES THAT I CAN GIVE MORE TOWARD SHAKEN Be creative as you explore ways you and your family can give toward SHAKEN You might have some stock property or other items of that nature Or you may have some stored resources that God has blessed you with in the past that He might be calling you to give during this time Please let us know if you need assistance with facilitating gifts of property or stock and we would be happy to help you with that process 21

WHAT TYPE OF SHAKEN EXPERIENCE WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE MESSAGES LIFE GROUP GUIDE If you have to miss a Sunday service or a Life Group meeting you can listen to the messages and find the SHAKEN Videos online at SHAKENCHURCH COM GOOD Commit to being a part of the weekend service for the next five weeks BETTER Commit to the above and to working through this guide on your own BEST Commit to the above and to a Life Group for the next 4 weeks 22 23

LIFE GROUP INSTRUCTIONS Whether you are going through this study in a group or on your own these tips will help you get the most out of this study LIFE GROUP VIDEO Each week you will have a brief video from Nathan that launches into our group discussion At the beginning of group each week play the appropriate week s video to begin Life Group videos can be found at WWW SHAKENCHURCH COM RESOURCES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Please allow time for contemplation during discussion questions Allow for a variety of responses SCRIPTURE STUDY We will be using the NIV translation throughout this series and study Each week allow someone to read aloud the scriptures being discussed for the group ACTION STEPS Take time to offer a clear action step for your group to consider each week The stated action step from the guide is an important challenge for each of us to consider 24 25

WEEK 1 MESSAGE MESSAGE NOTES SHAKEN TO TRUST WEEK 1 MESSAGE LIFE GROUP GUIDE SHAKEN TO TRUST 1 Remember a time when you were sick or hurt Did you let someone help you Why BIG IDEA From the message Sunday how do you think the lame man in front of the temple felt as Peter and John acknowledged him and responded to his appeal Why KEY VERSES WHAT DO I WANT TO REMEMBER Someone who can retell the story of the lame man at the Temple gate Then read Acts 3 1 10 note verses 9 10 WHAT QUESTIONS DO I HAVE Acts 3 9 10 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him 2 How do you think this man demonstrated a trust in the power of God that inspired others to trust also WHAT NEXT STEP WILL I TAKE IN RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE 26 27

3 Someone read another story of trust 1 Kings 19 19 21 5 What would be an example in our culture in 2022 of a significant sacrifice that would make that kind of statement of commitment for family and friends The Call of Elisha 1 Kings 19 19 21 19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen and he himself was driving the twelfth pair Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye he said and then I will come with you 6 Elisha knew that Elijah was the preeminent spiritual prophet in Israel Was Elisha s commitment to Elijah or was it to God Why or why not Go back Elijah replied What have I done to you 21 So Elisha left him and went back He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people and they ate Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant 4 It seems that Elisha was rather wealthy He owned the equivalent in his day of twelve 100 000 John Deere tractors When he slaughtered the oxen and burned the yoke he was making a statement about his willingness to leave his fortune behind and follow Elijah In what ways would that kind of statement impact him personally and his family and friends 28 7 What could it look like if you were to make a visible statement to others of your all out trust in God 8 What are the barriers preventing you from living in full trust that God will provide everything you need 29

WEEK 2 MESSAGE NOTES WEEK 2 LIFE GROUP GUIDE MESSAGE SHAKEN TO FREEDOM MESSAGE SHAKEN TO FREEDOM 1 Who is someone you admire for standing up for what they believe BIG IDEA KEY VERSES WHAT DO I WANT TO REMEMBER WHAT QUESTIONS DO I HAVE WHAT NEXT STEP WILL I TAKE IN RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE 30 2 From the message Sunday how do you think Peter and John felt as they were put in jail questioned and chastised by the most important spiritual leaders in Israel Why Someone who can retell the story of Peter and John after they healed the lame man at the Temple gate Then read Acts 4 13 20 Acts 4 13 20 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled ordinary men they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them there was nothing they could say 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together 16 What are we going to do with these men they asked Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign and we cannot deny it cont d 31

17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus 19 But Peter and John replied Which is right in God s eyes to listen to you or to him You be the judges 20 As for us we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard 3 What was the inner motivation that enabled Peter and John to demonstrate such a calm and clear presentation of the work of Jesus Their trust in God no matter what happened Their surrender to God and to the situation without any obvious fear 5 What did Nebuchadnezzar s response to this miracle indicate Circle your selection s He believed their God was all powerful He believed their God was the only true God He wanted to serve their God He wanted their God on his side Someone read another story of surrender Daniel 3 1 30 Note verse 16 Daniel 3 16 18 16 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego replied to him King Nebuchadnezzar we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace the God we serve is able to deliver us from it and he will deliver us from Your Majesty s hand 18 But even if he does not we want you to know Your Majesty that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up 6 In what area of your life do you feel the greatest opportunity to show the freedom of your surrender to God Circle your selection s At work At home With finances With friends Other 7 How can we cultivate in our lives and our family the freedom of all out surrender to God 4 What is to be admired about the three men in this story Circle your selection s Their courage to defy authority Their witness for the Lord Their faith in God for protection and a miracle 32 33

WEEK 3 MESSAGE NOTES WEEK 3 LIFE GROUP GUIDE MESSAGE SHAKEN TO STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE SHAKEN TO STEWARDSHIP 1 What contest or competition have you ever won How did you prepare BIG IDEA KEY VERSES 2 From the message Sunday what was the biggest takeaway about managing the stuff God has put in our hands WHAT DO I WANT TO REMEMBER WHAT QUESTIONS DO I HAVE 3 The believers prayer after Peter and John s release was remarkable Acts 4 24 26 What historical fact that they recalled and prayed do you think was the most strengthening to their faith and mission next steps Circle your selection s God s creation of the heavens the earth the sea and everything in them WHAT NEXT STEP WILL I TAKE IN RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE 34 The prophetic word spoken by David about the kings of the earth taking a stand against the Lord and his anointed one and seeing that fulfilled The prophetic promise accomplished in the conspiracy of Herod and Pontius Pilate against Jesus 35

4 Why do you think that remembering what God has already done has a big role in helping people live responsibly with the things that they have and do 5 What was Mordecai really saying in his message to Esther Circle your selection s You are in danger as well For your sake don t pass up this opportunity Someone read another story of courageous and shrewd management Esther 4 6 17 7 1 10 NOTE Esther had been chosen as the new queen Haman an official who despised Jews in general and Mordecai Esther s cousin and adopted father in particular had just persuaded King Xerxes to order the annihilation of all the Jews in the empire Though Mordecai earlier instructed Esther not to reveal she was a Jew when he learns of Haman s plot he sent a message challenging her to act on behalf of their people Esther 4 12 16 12 When Esther s words were reported to Mordecai 13 he sent back this answer Do not think that because you are in the king s house you alone of all the Jews will escape 14 For if you remain silent at this time relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place but you and your father s family will perish And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai 16 Go gather together all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me Do not eat or drink for three days night or day I and my attendants will fast as you do When this is done I will go to the king even though it is against the law And if I perish I perish 36 This is why the Lord has allowed you to be queen God will be with you God will use you 6 Esther did as Mordecai asked and went to the king The king received her and granted her request What impresses you most about Esther as she stewarded her role and responsibility Circle your selection s her courage her obedience her strategy wisdom her spiritual preparation 7 Often the impact of our decisions are not immediately clear Esther found herself in a unique position with access to the king and she was faced with a decision How did she steward what God had placed in her control What has God placed in your control and how might the Spirit be leading you to respond 37

8 If you faced a crisis that required you to step out in faith as Esther did would you need WEEK 4 MESSAGE NOTES MESSAGE SHAKEN TO BOLDNESS BIG IDEA more wisdom KEY VERSES more courage or something else WHAT DO I WANT TO REMEMBER WHAT QUESTIONS DO I HAVE WHAT NEXT STEP WILL I TAKE IN RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE 38 39

WEEK 4 LIFE GROUP GUIDE MESSAGE SHAKEN TO BOLDNESS 1 What bold move are you contemplating right now a new something e g house job relationship commitment or changing an old something e g appearance remodel vacation location or adding something e g a child degree a vehicle Read Acts 4 29 31 Acts 4 29 31 29 Now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus 31 After they prayed the place where they were meeting was shaken And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly 2 From this passage and the message Sunday how do you think the believers felt after hearing the story of the release of Peter and John then praying and then experiencing the shaking of the place where they were staying If you had been there how would you have felt Retell the whole story of Peter and John one more time and all the details you can remember Read Acts 4 23 Acts 4 23 23 On their release Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them 24 When they heard this they raised their voices together in prayer to God 3 The believers prayer seemed to assume that their faith would be tested in the future and so they said 29 Now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness How could a prayer for boldness empower the believers for the unknown situations that would lie ahead of them Read another story of a great test and a bold faith decision to trust God Genesis 22 1 18 READ After years of waiting Abraham Age 100 and Sarah Age 90 finally had the son God had promised In this story God gives Abraham an amazing and extremely difficult assignment God asked Abraham to kill his son and sacrifice him as an offering On the long walk to the alter Abraham said 40 41

Genesis 22 8 8 God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son And the two of them went on together 4 Abraham believed that God would provide a solution for him as soon as God told him what he was to do He demonstrated his faith by going immediately to the mountain as he was told Then when he saw the place of the sacrifice he told his servants Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there We will worship and then we will come back to you How could it be that Abraham had so much faith that he could go forward without hesitation to fulfill his assignment 6 What do you do when you are facing a major test in your life A time of prayer Strict obedience to God Fasting Seeking counsel from others Studying God s Word 7 How is your Christian life characterized by boldness When Where How How Much 5 What was it that God desired from Abraham in this test Sacrifice Faithfulness Unquestioning obedience To be loved by Abraham above all others To love God more than the good gifts God gives Bold trust 42 43

WEEK 5 MESSAGE NOTES MESSAGE SHAKEN TO GENEROSITY BIG IDEA KEY VERSES KID AND STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES KID S MINISTRY STUDENT MINISTRY WEEK 1 WEEK 1 SHAKEN TO TRUST SHAKEN TO TRUST Acts 3 1 10 WEEK 2 WHAT DO I WANT TO REMEMBER SHAKEN TO FREEDOM Acts 4 23 WEEK 3 SHAKEN TO STEWARD Matthew 25 14 30 WHAT QUESTIONS DO I HAVE WEEK 4 SHAKEN TO BOLDNESS Acts 4 31 37 WEEK 5 WHAT NEXT STEP WILL I TAKE IN RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE 44 SHAKEN TO GENEROSITY When God says move we move WEEK 2 SHAKEN TO FREEDOM Freedom is only found in surrender WEEK 3 SHAKEN TO BOLDNESS We are given boldness so we can move boldy WEEK 4 SHAKEN TO GENEROSITY Receiving grace empowers giving generously John 6 45

REFLECTION FOR COMMITMENT SUNDAY If someone who didn t know you looked at your financial commitments what would they say that you value NOVEMBER 20 2022 To be completed prior to Commitment Sunday If you re married please do this together List out the financial commitments that you currently have those that go beyond a one time payment but that have a time duration to them Examples would be a home mortgage a lease agreement a car loan a cell phone contract your child s tuition for school your own tuition for school etc Would that statement be true about you Or is there something that needs to be explained or modified If you keep this commitment over the next two years what type of spiritual transformation will this cause in you Now write out the commitment you are planning to make for the SHAKEN initiative Where does it fall in the priority of these other commitments Do you need to change or modify one or more of these other commitments in order to be able to fulfill your SHAKEN commitment What if you wanted to raise your SHAKEN commitment to make a bold move with us What would that require Is there a financial commitment you currently have that appears to be prioritized above your ability to make a truly surrendered giving commitment to help move God s mission forward How will you leverage this change to influence others such as your children your co workers your friends your family and others in your circles of influence Pray over your commitment as you prepare to lay your card at the altar on Commitment Sunday Prayer is the most important thing in this whole process Now let s do this Church Let s allow God to take us on a new adventure as we are moved to be bold 46 47