Let’s dive in deeper to Pastor Kevin’s message!

Scripture Reading:

  • Revelation, Chapter 1
    • Main text: I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Rev. 1:9-11 NLT
  • Scriptures on Transformation
    • Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.” Isaiah 51:2
    • What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. Galatians 6:15
    • At that time, the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 1 Samuel 10:6
    • And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image from one degree of glory to another; this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
  • Scriptures on the Priesthood of the Believer
    • Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Jesus Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. Hebrews 10:11-13 MSG
    • You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness and into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:5, 9.
    • Let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16
    • And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1
    • Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend. Psalms 5:2-3 MSG
    • Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Jude 1:23

Questions for Discussion:

  • Life is full of battles and blessings. Have you felt this tension? What have been some of your battles in 2020? How about your blessings? (Rev. 1:9)
  • How can you get “tuned in” to the Kingdom realm? John became more aware of God’s presence than the prison he was in. How can you do the same this year?
  • We learned that we have been made a kingdom of priests to God the Father in Christ. A priest ministers to God and ministers to others. How are you doing that? Do you see your work as holy or just work?
  • On Sunday, Pastor Kevin said, “The problem is not that Christians are not where they should be, but they are not what they should be right where they are.” How can you be a priest where you work, go to school, attend church, and live, and transform your year?

Action Steps:

Want to grow more?  Here are a couple great books to go through at the beginning of this year:

  • Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God by Mark Batterson
  • Have You Heard from the Lord Lately? Learning to Hear and Know the Voice of God by Dave Williams