1)Listen to Podcast
2)GG Questions
02/02/2019
Saturate: Past, Present, and Future
John 15:1-5
1. Saturate : Jeff Vanderstelt’s vision, in his 2015 book, Saturate , is “every man, woman, and child in every place having a daily encounter with Jesus.” This, to Vanderstelt, is Jesus saturation – filling everyday life with his presence. Where do you see this idea in Scripture (Hab. 2:14; Eph. 1:22-23)? This vision is accomplished, Vanderstelt insists, when the church embraces “being disciples of Jesus in the everyday stuff of life .” Take a few moments and reflect together as a group what it would look like if this vision took off at New Life, in all of Pacifica, this country, the world, and your individual life. Really work at catching the vision!
2. We Have Been Saved : Though we have been saved from the penalty of sin, it is very possible to have been a follower of Jesus for a long while, but struggle translating the truths you believe in your mind to the reality of your everyday life. What are you tempted to hide or cover up? From whom do you strive to gain approval or acceptance? (yourself? someone else? God?) By doing so, where are you placing your identity? Where does God tell you your identity is truly found?
3. We Are Being Saved : Sin and the inclination to sin is powerful. Very powerful! But we, as Spirit-filled Christians, are being saved from the power of sin – progressively, overtime, in a process the Bible calls ‘sanctification’. Romans 6 is a tremendously powerful chapter about our freedom from sin’s slavery and the encouragement to live in that freedom. How does this chapter connect Jesus’ death (6:6) with your present sin struggle (6:6, 7, 14) and give you practical, action steps to live into who you are (6:11, 12)?
4. We Will Be Saved : Vanderstelt utilizes a helpful concept of our living into either the ‘greater story’ or some ‘lesser story’. The greater story culminates with the title of this question: ‘we will be saved’, saved from judgment and also saved for a blessed eternity. What glorious truths does the Bible reveal about the place of eternity (Rev. 21:1), the person we will be with (John 14:2-3; Rev. 21:3), and activities we will participate in (Luke 19:16-17; Rev. 5:10)? In Valderstelt’s words, ‘in what areas of life do you need to ‘trade up’ from a ‘lesser story, identity, hope, or savior’ to see life through God’s greater story?’
