westwoodcc.orgChanhassen • 952.224.7300 Minnetonka • 952.224.7400

January 1, 2017

Sunday Service TimesChanhassen

8:15, 9:30, 11:00am & 5:00pm

Minnetonka 9:30 & 11:00am

Live with open hands...and be awakened, be prepared and

be a blessing. For stories of God at work in and through the

people of Westwood visit westwoodcc.org/stories

Many people describe Christianity by one adjective–”boring.” But

what if God was building a wave and inviting you and me to surf it? Join us for this sermon series

as we see how God’s power transformed early followers of

Jesus and how He does the same in our lives today.

January 8–April 16

Is this your first time here? So glad you came!

Welcome to Westwood! If you are unfamiliar with the flow of our service, here’s the scoop: We begin with a few worship songs. The lyrics are found on the big screens. The songs are followed by a couple announcements, a time of prayer and offering. The sermon message is given, and the service typically concludes with a song.

Stop by the Info Spot before or after the service. We’d love to meet you, answer any questions you have, and give you some handy information. For kids and students, we offer great programs specially tailored to their ages. Our Westwood Kids’ desk would be glad to help you. Come, let’s give our love to God, who first loved us.

WATCH WESTWOOD SERVICES | WESTWOODCC.ORG/LIVEFOR CAMPUS SPECIFIC EVENTS, VISIT WESTWOODCC.ORG

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may make it known as I should. 5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

Welcome to Westwood!Colossians 4:2–6 (NET)

• We are to ____________________ upwards to God.

• We are to ____________________ inwards to community.

• We are to ____________________ outwards to those outside the faith.

Practice for the new year: Live into the ____________________ of ____________________ ,

____________________ and ____________________ .

Making the Most of Our New Year

FIND YOUR PLACE IN A SMALL GROUP HERE

In small groups we get to form friendships, share struggles and offer support, and grow in our faith in ways we wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Group Connect is our way to help you find and form a group that works for you. Won’t you join us? Register online.

If you are not able to attend the entire session, but are interested in a small group, please contact Lisa at lisa.nebel@westwoodcc.org or use our GroupSearch feature at westwoodcc.org/groupsearch.

Group Connect - Chanhassen Campus Saturday, January 28, 9:00am–11:30pm, Woodside Room

Group Connect - Minnetonka Campus Sunday, January 29, 12:30–1:45pm, Room M-2

I COME HERE ON SUNDAYS BUT WHAT’S NEXT?

Wondering how to get involved at Westwood? Wonder no more! We’d love to help you find your starting point, whether that’s connecting in a small group, taking a class that will grow you in your faith, or sharing your talents through serving. WHAT’S NEXT is a great starting point. If you have kids, they are welcome to be a part of Kids’ programs (birth–grade 5) while you attend. Register online.

Chanhassen Campus Sunday, January 15, 9:30–10:45am, Room A205

Minnetonka Campus Sunday, January 15, 11:00am–12:00pm, Room M-2

Westwood buildings will be closed January 2.

01.01.2017 Zac Bush

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Making  the  Most  of  Our  New  Year  Live  into  the  Rhythm  of  Up,  In,  and  Out.  

Colossians  4:2-­‐6    1. 45%  of  Americans  usually  make  resolutions,  whereas  38%  absolutely  never  make  resolutions.  Are  

you  a  person  who  typically  makes  resolutions  for  the  New  Year?  If  so,  what  are  your  resolutions?  If  you  don’t,  why  don’t  you  make  resolutions?    

 2. Read  Colossians  4:2-­‐6.  These  are  some  of  Paul’s  last  words  and  commands  to  the  believers  in  

Colossae.  What  are  some  initial  observations?  Why  do  you  think  he  chooses  to  finish  up  his  letter  with  these  commands?  What  do  you  think  Paul  is  communicating  here?    

 3. Paul  commands  them  right  away  in  verse  two,  claiming  “be  devoted  in  prayer”  (or  some  translations  

might  say  “continue  steadfastly  in  prayer”).  The  word  “devoted”  is  an  important  word.  Take  a  look  at  some  other  places  this  word  occurs:  

• Acts  2:42  42  They  devoted  themselves  to  the  apostles’  teaching  and  to  fellowship,  to  the  breaking  of  bread  and  to  prayer.  

• Acts  8:13  13  Simon  himself  believed  and  was  baptized.  And  he  continued  with  Philip  everywhere,  astonished  by  the  great  signs  and  miracles  he  saw.  

• Romans  12:2  12  Be  joyful  in  hope,  patient  in  affliction,  faithful  in  prayer.  

What  would  you  say  is  the  meaning  of  this  word  devoted?  Can  you  come  up  with  a  definition?  How  does  this  word  and  idea  play  into  our  prayer  lives?    

4. Next,  we  see  Paul  encourage  them  “to  pray  for  us  also.”  Paul  always  had  people  in  his  corner.  In  their  book  Transformational  Groups,  Ed  Stetzer  and  Eric  Geiger  researched  the  importance  of  small  groups  on  an  individual’s  faith  journey.1  They  asked  Christians  the  following  questions:  

Question   Did  not  attend  a  group  

Attended  a  group  at  least  4  times  a  month  

“I  intentionally  spend  time  with  other  believers  in  order  to  help  them  grow  in  their  faith.”   22%     63%  (+41%)  

“I  am  intentionally  putting  my  spiritual  gift(s)  to  use  serving  God  and  others.”   42%   73%  (+31%)  

“I  read  the  Bible  every  day  or  a  few  times  a  week.”   27%   67%  (+40%)  

“I  pray  for  my  church  and/or  church  leaders  every  day  or  a  few  times  a  week.”   30%   64%  (+34%)  

With  these  statistics  in  mind,  how  has  this  group  made  a  difference  on  your  faith  journey?      5. Reread  4:3-­‐6.  Paul  now  shifts  his  focus  from  inside  the  church  to  outside  the  church.  He  encourages  

the  Colossians  to  pray  towards  outsiders.  What  would  you  say  makes  up  a  full  prayer  to  those  

                                                                                                                            1  Ed  Stetzer  and  Eric  Geiger,  Transformational  Groups:  Creating  a  New  Scorecard  for  Groups,  Nashville,  TN:  Lifeway  Research,  2014,  41-­‐43.  

outside  the  church?  (Perhaps  a  two-­‐pronged  prayer,  that  1)  a  door  would  be  open  for  the  word,  [see  verse  three]  and  that  2)  he  may  make  it  clear  [see  verse  four]).  Do  you  have  someone  you  can  pray  this  over?  Perhaps  a  family  member,  a  co-­‐worker,  or  a  neighbor?  How  can  you  focus  your  life  outwards  to  love  those  outside  the  church?  

 Much  of  this  week’s  sermon  focused  on  individual’s  and  living  into  a  New  Year  Rhythm.  However,  the  beauty  of  the  topic  is  that  it  can  be  applied  to  a  small  group  as  well.  Many  of  the  principles  can  be  utilized  for  a  deeper  and  fuller  small  group  experience.      6. Take  a  look  at  the  triangle  below.  It’s  a  helpful  tool  for  a  small  group  “diagnostic  test.”  How  as  a  

small  group  can  we  properly  balance  this  rhythm  of  up,  in,  and  out?  Are  we  in  balance  or  out  of  balance?  Do  we  overemphasize  some  areas  and  underemphasize  other  areas?      

7. How  can  we,  as  a  small  group,  encourage  one  another  this  year  to  live  into  this  rhythm?  (Some  suggestions  can  include  accountability  in  prayer  or  scripture  reading?  Is  it  one-­‐member  memorizing  scripture  with  another  member?  Is  it  serving  together?  Can  we  take  a  missions  trip  together?)    

 

 

 

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