The Priorities in Your Life

Goals

1. Re-evaluate the priorities of your life by looking @ 3 examples in the bible
2. Establish a “sharing” environment within the group:
3. Leader talk less instead motivate members to talk more
• Be patience when no one is wiling to share
• Always ask for alternate opinion even someone says the perfect answer out
• No criticism or negative during the program (1-on-1 talk about it later)
• Honestly say you can’t answer that if you don’t know the answer of any question. Tell him/her you will try to find it out for them later

Format of the program

1. Ice breaking game: We’ll provide paper for it and all you need to do is come @7:15pm as we’ll go through once with you all.
2. Case 1:
• Abraham Offered Isaac to God (for Danny and Nora’s group)
• The Samaria Woman (for all other groups)
3. Case 2: The Rich Young Man
4. Conclusion: Jesus, Martha and Mary
5. Pray and share in cell group.
   

Genesis 22:1-13: Abraham Offered Isaac to God

1. If 兒女是耶和華所賜的產業．所懷的胎、是他所給的賞賜。 (Psalm 127:3), is it right if we put a lot of our time and focus on our children?
2. Do you think it is reasonable for God to ask Abraham to offer his son Isaac to Him?
3. Our cultural background kind of tells us to put our kids/family in the 1st priority. We have to follow it and listen to our parents’ teaching.
4. What’s the immediate response of Abraham?
5. What can we know from the talk between the father and the son?
6. Can you do the same thing as Abraham did on verse 10?
7. How did God bless Abraham and his family after this event?
8. What’s the application for you from this passage?

John 4:1-29: The Samaria Woman

1. We all need Love and even the bible told us to love one each other. What’s the problem if we spend more time w/ our spouse (boy/girl friend)?
2. For those who aren’t in a relationship right now, is it a must for you to find a partner? Why?
3. How many of you have more than 5 relationships in the past? Why?
4. What’s the reason for the Samaria woman to have 5 husbands and dating a guy now?
5. What is the meaning of the living water and why the one will never be in need of drink again?
6. What is the outcome of this story?
   

Matthew 19:16-24: The Rich Young Man

1. Since there are a lot of commands and teachings in the bible, it’s not bad for us to follow a part of those, right?
2. I’m not going to offer 1/10 to God as I have mortgage, car leasing, trips….etc Can I offer more when I’m richer?
3. I work hard because the bible told me so “With the hard work of your hands you will get your bread”. What’s the problem if I work hard for my own prosperity?
4. Is it ok for Christian to have investment? Why?
5. When everyone is doing the same thing. Why I can’t do it?
6. What’s the problem for the young man in the passage?
7. Why did Jesus ask this kind of question? Can anyone actually say yes to him?
8. What’s the outcome of the young man?
9. How can we apply this passage to our own life?
   

Conclusion: Luke 10:38-42 Jesus, Martha and Mary

The recent survey done by SCCEFC shows that the number one reason why our church comers cannot spend more time to do devotion and to read the Bible is because they're "BUSY". Often, in our lives, there are lots of things, big and small, need to be taken care of. Some of those things are necessary for survival, but very often, they're not that important nor are they urgent. Our lives become "distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." (v.40) When we're so focused on those things, we become stressed, lost our temper, starts to compare and even blame our Lord. "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (v. 40) Now, does it mean that "only one thing is need" (v. 41) to survive? Does it mean that we don't need to take care of those things? Does it mean that we don't need to work hard? Please note that Jesus didn't discredit Martha for her work. He said, "you are worried and upset about many things," (v. 41). What's that one thing? Our relationship with God? How do we prioritize our lives the right way so that we can focus on that one thing?

Discussion questions: (Choose some)

1. Are you a workaholic according to the questionnaire we've done 2 months ago?
• questionnaire here
2. Do you tend to pack your schedule (including holiday schedule) very tight?
• not allowing enough time to rest, quiet down, connect to God
3. What do you think are the reasons behind why people pack their schedule so tight?
• efficient vs effective: We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective only when we achieve the right goals.
4. When things didn't go smoothly and will take longer to complete, what are the first few activities on your schedule that you will drop?
• fellowship? worship? devotion? Bible reading? eating?
• this tells you your priorities
5. Then, how should we prioritize our lives?
• urgent vs important: if we keep taking care of things that we think are urgent, we'll end up not taking care of those that are important.
• we need a paradigm shift: instead of scheduling things base only on urgency, we need to move towards basing the decisions on the importance.
• See the diagram
6. What are the most important things other than fulfilling the basic survival needs?
• #1 according to Luke 10:38-42, your relationship with God
• Other important things:
• The Greatest Commandments: Mark 12:29-31
• The Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20
• 六項屬靈成長的重點：
  1. 以上帝為生命之源，並認定祂能供應我們一切所需。
  2. 把和神、和人的關係視為我們人生的主要需要。
  3. 尋求並操練恩典與赦免。
  4. 順服上帝，以祂為主人。
  5. 尋求上帝的心意，並按祂的方式生活。
  6. 讓上帝作上帝，掌管一切，人要學習自制。
     

Verses and wrap up at the end:

Your list of priorities will reflect what is in your heart:

1. Proverbs 4:23 - out of the heart flows the issues (outgoings) of our lives.
   
   • 你要保守你心，勝過保守一切（或譯：你要切切保守你心），因為一生的果效是由心發出。
     Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
2. Proverbs 23:7 - as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
   
   • 因為他心怎樣思量，他為人就是怎樣。他雖對你說，請吃，請喝，他的心卻與你相背。
     for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
3. Matthew 6:21 - where your treasure is, there you heart will be.
   
   • 因為你的財寶在那裡，你的心也在那裡。
     For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
     

How Will God Taking Priority Affect Your Life?

1. There are many areas of your life that will be affected by letting God take priority. Consider the following examples:
   
   • What you do on the first day of the week will be affected. You will set aside the time to assemble with the saints and to worship our heavenly Father.
     
     • 七日的第一日，我們聚會擘餅的時候，保羅因為要次日起行，就與他們講論，直講到半夜。
       On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. (Cf. Acts 20:7)
     • 又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既知道（原文是看見）那日子臨近，就更當如此。
       And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
       
   • No matter what else has to be done that day, a Christian should make certain that he assembles with the saints.
2. Your speech or conversations will be affected.
   
   • 污穢的言語一句不可出口，只要隨事說造就人的好話，叫聽見的人得益處。
     Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
3. The type of clothing you wear will be affected.
   
   • 又願女人廉恥、自守，以正派衣裳為妝飾，不以編髮、黃金、珍珠，和貴價的衣裳為妝飾；只要有善行，這才與自稱是敬神的女人相宜。
     I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2:9,10)
4. The type of people you associate with may be changed.
   
   • 你們不要自欺；濫交是敗壞善行。
     Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33)
     
   • 你們和不信的原不相配，不要同負一軛。....
     Do not be yoked together with unbelievers..... (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
5. You will study the word of God.
   
   • ... 你要盡心、盡性、盡力愛耶和華─你的　神。我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，...
     ...Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. .... (Deuteronomy 6:1-10)
     
   • 你當竭力在神面前得蒙喜悅，作無愧的工人，按著正意分解真理的道。
     Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
6. In other words, every step you take, every word you say, every thing you do must be in the name of Christ or according to His authority.
   
   • 無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。
     And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)
     

Is God the main priority in your life? If not, then why not?

1. God made us His priority when He sent His son to die on the cross and when He gave us the gospel, the power of God unto Salvation. (Romans 1:16)
2. If you are not a Christian, God has made it possible for you to have all of your sins forgiven and be reconciled to Him. Obey the gospel today and live a faithful life. By doing so, you will spend eternity in heaven with God.

God made you His priority. Why not choose this day to let Him take priority your life?