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Notes - 27 August 2007
Living with Jesus… the ultimate makeover
Link to life
Before and after stories in the media can be
pretty amazing. Just look at this extract from the “bio” for Jim on
Extreme Makeover Season 4, Episode 4
 
Before
After
Jim, a 35-year-old groom, and Jennifer, a
29-year-old bride from Erie, PA, will undergo a life- changing
experience together as their lives and looks are transformed by a
team of plastic surgeons and top hair and makeup artists, stylists
and personal trainers before they are then revealed to each other
among families and friends in their fairy tale wedding.
(http://abc.go.com/primetime/extrememakeover/bios/127047.html
accessed 28/8/7)
What do you think of how Jim and Jennifer felt
after the makeover? What changes would it make to their life
together?
Is it unreasonable to believe that when we
accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour more than just a makeover will
be underway in our lives? The messages over the last two weeks guide
us in what to expect and do in this most special relationship…
Bible focus
(Acts 20:21 NLT)
I have had one message for
Jews and Gentiles alike—the necessity of turning from sin and
turning to God, and of faith in our Lord Jesus.
(2 Corinthians:1-5) verse 5 especially – in
italics
And now, brothers, we want you to know about
the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the
most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty
welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much
as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their
own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in
this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping
with God's will.
Giving your life to Jesus is the most important
of all life decisions. It impacts eternity. But how can I measure up
to Jesus and what does it mean for me and my church?
Discussion
Part 1 – We are saved
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
What does it mean to you to be saved?
Is it a once off thing or does being saved keep on changing you?
Part 2 – We are in the process of being
restored
Read Acts 20:21 again. Repentance and faith are
the actions of being saved and starting out on a Godly makeover.
Repentance is about seeing evil and turning away from it. Faith in
Jesus gives us freedom in forgiveness and eternal life. These two
things together are so radical that Jesus talks about it as being
“born again” (John 3:5-7)
How did you start out toward becoming a new
creation?
What do we do when we don’t act like the new person God is making us
to be?
What happens if we keep failing? (Some sincere and detailed feedback
from mature Christians will be useful here).
Part 3 – Living with Jesus is about faith,
hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:11-13)
That’s where Church comes in. 2 Corinthians:1-5
(Bible focus) is an example of what happens when people get together
in Church. Life can throw its trials at us and by looking to Jesus
and sharing his love we can give to God and each other. We don’t
just get by, we can grow together.
How does our Church help us to become God’s new
creation?
Should Church expect us to be perfect?
How should we treat other people in Church, especially when they
fail?
What did Jesus do when people messed up?
The Big Question
What way can we commit to helping each other be
a healthy Church over the next two weeks; to turn to God, and help
each other?
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