Love Bless Forgive

In one paragraph

Norris spoke about the kingdom weapons God has given his people, how those weapons work in places of intense persecution around the world, and how he was forced to use them inside his own family when he least wanted to. The message drew a straight line between what the missions team is seeing in Lebanon, Uganda, and elsewhere, and what any person in this room is called to do with an enemy close to...

Read together

1. Psalm 8:3-4, 9 Opening encouragement before worship: 'when I consider your heavens and the work of your fingers and the moon and the stars which you've set in place, who are we that you're mindful of us, that you care for us? Lord, our lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth'
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Shared between worship songs: 'always be joyful... never stop praying... be thankful in all circumstances... this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus'
3. Ephesians 3:20-21 Shared between worship songs: 'now all glory to God who is able through his mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we could ask or imagine'
4. John 15:9 Before the offering song: 'as the father has loved me, so I've loved you. Now remain in that love'
5. James 3:10 On the power of blessing and cursing: 'out of this mouth comes blessing and cursing, and it ought not to be this way'
6. Psalm 139:8 On God's constant presence: 'even if I go to the depths of hell, your presence doesn't leave me'
7. Acts 21:1-2 Norris's father took him to this passage about Paul sailing past Ephesus, landing at Miletus, with elders warning him not to go to Jerusalem
8. Luke 22:61-62 Used to show Jesus was present in Peter's moment of greatest failure: 'and Jesus looked directly at Peter' while his own suffering was happening

Talk about it

1. Norris described going into new places not as an expert but as a learner, asking 'What are you doing here, God?' How does that posture of coming underneath people rather than coming in with your own agenda challenge the way you normally approach serving others?
2. The group called out weapons of the kingdom together: prayer, love, forgiveness, acceptance, truth, the Holy Spirit. Which of those weapons do you find hardest to pick up, and why?
3. Norris shared that when he prayed curses over his son-in-law, God told him he was aiding and abetting the enemy because his words carried authority. Has there been a time when you recognized that your words over someone were working against what God wanted for them?
4. Norris talked about learning to hear God's voice in the chaos and busyness rather than waiting for a quiet hour that never comes. What does God's voice actually sound like for you, and in what kinds of moments have you found it easiest to hear?
5. Norris used the moment in Luke 22 when Jesus looked directly at Peter during his biggest failure, and asked what Jesus wanted Peter to know in that moment. Is there a failure or a hard memory in your own life where you need to sit with Jesus and see what he is saying to you?