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OneLife Church
Christian Worldview: Part 2 - Pleasure Prison
Locations & Times
Ball Road Campus
7421 Ball Rd, Knoxville, TN 37931, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
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http://www.onelifeknox.com/connectGive Online
The Bible teaches us to give the first 10% of our income to the "storehouse." God says we can test Him by doing this and watching Him take care of us in return. This may sound like a stretch to you! Just take a step toward toward that goal. If you currently give nothing, start giving something. If you give something, try increasing it a step toward the 10% goal. Trust God! Give Him your first before anything else by setting up a recurring, automated donation online. You will then receive quarterly updates about how your giving is making a difference and how your donations are being used.
http://www.onelifeknox.com/giveThe Lie: Pleasure is my purpose.
The Truth: When pleasure becomes my purpose, pleasure becomes my prison.
The Truth: When pleasure becomes my purpose, pleasure becomes my prison.
Hedonism focuses on the immediate.
Hedonism distorts wants into needs.
Hedonism devalues what matters most.
Hedonism's result is always regret.
The Christian Worldview Alternative: Faith over feelings.
1. Ask a better question: What does God want?
2. Think and pray long-term.
3. Value what God values.
4. Find my greatest joy in Jesus.
START TALKING:
Think back to an earlier season of your life when you wanted that next thing or that next step. Maybe it was to make the next salary number, have the newer car or house, or get to the next step of your career. How long did reaching that place make you happy before you wanted more or to take the next step.
Think back to an earlier season of your life when you wanted that next thing or that next step. Maybe it was to make the next salary number, have the newer car or house, or get to the next step of your career. How long did reaching that place make you happy before you wanted more or to take the next step.
START THINKING:
Read Genesis 25:29-34. Where do you see the effects of hedonism in Esau's story?
Where did the immediate moment take precedent over the longterm, better alternative?
Where did desires get distorted as needs?
Where did what mattered most get devalued?
Read Hebrews 12:16-17. What was the ultimate result of Esau's choices?
Read Genesis 25:29-34. Where do you see the effects of hedonism in Esau's story?
Where did the immediate moment take precedent over the longterm, better alternative?
Where did desires get distorted as needs?
Where did what mattered most get devalued?
Read Hebrews 12:16-17. What was the ultimate result of Esau's choices?
START SHARING:
When have you believed the lie of hedonism without even realizing it because something that was an immediate pain in the moment became your entire focus? As you look back on it, what was lost by making that the focus? How would a long-term thought and prayer discipline have changed the way you worked through that?
When have you seen wants distorted to be needs for you? What were you willing to do to get those wants met? What was the cost? As you look back, how are you able to see now that it wasn't really need but truly was just want?
When you have been looking through the lens of minimizing pain and maximizing pleasure at all cost, how did what mattered most get devalued? What excuses did you tell yourself or what lies were you believing?
This worldview always ends in regret. What have you found yourself regretting because choices you made when looking through the wrong lens?
When have you believed the lie of hedonism without even realizing it because something that was an immediate pain in the moment became your entire focus? As you look back on it, what was lost by making that the focus? How would a long-term thought and prayer discipline have changed the way you worked through that?
When have you seen wants distorted to be needs for you? What were you willing to do to get those wants met? What was the cost? As you look back, how are you able to see now that it wasn't really need but truly was just want?
When you have been looking through the lens of minimizing pain and maximizing pleasure at all cost, how did what mattered most get devalued? What excuses did you tell yourself or what lies were you believing?
This worldview always ends in regret. What have you found yourself regretting because choices you made when looking through the wrong lens?
START DOING:
What issue, concern, or want can you ask a better question about today and this week: what does God want?
In that issue, concern, or want, what does God value most? What are the biblical principles or verses that come to mind or that you can find to answer that question?
What can you do today and this week to think and pray long-term rather than simply short term? What is something you can pray every day to develop this discipline?
What will you do to find your greatest joy in Jesus, no matter what else is going on around you? What daily, weekly, and other regular rhythms can you establish to develop this discipline of finding your greatest joy in Jesus?
What issue, concern, or want can you ask a better question about today and this week: what does God want?
In that issue, concern, or want, what does God value most? What are the biblical principles or verses that come to mind or that you can find to answer that question?
What can you do today and this week to think and pray long-term rather than simply short term? What is something you can pray every day to develop this discipline?
What will you do to find your greatest joy in Jesus, no matter what else is going on around you? What daily, weekly, and other regular rhythms can you establish to develop this discipline of finding your greatest joy in Jesus?
START PRAYING:
The reality is, we all experience pain. In those moments, the lens we choose to see that moment determines everything. Pray for each person in the micro church and for their issue, concern, or want that was shared above. Pray Psalms 16:11, Proverbs 3:5, and Colossians 3:2 over each person. Pray that God will use this to impact the people around us where live, work, and play, and that our "one" will see Jesus in and through us as a result.
The reality is, we all experience pain. In those moments, the lens we choose to see that moment determines everything. Pray for each person in the micro church and for their issue, concern, or want that was shared above. Pray Psalms 16:11, Proverbs 3:5, and Colossians 3:2 over each person. Pray that God will use this to impact the people around us where live, work, and play, and that our "one" will see Jesus in and through us as a result.
Take a Next Step!
Don't just attend church for an hour a week. Take a step! What step should you take?
1. Follow Jesus! If you have followed Jesus...
2. Get baptized! If you are following Jesus, then that's all you need to be "ready" to take this step.
3. Volunteer! Don't simply be a consumer, but be part of making a difference in the lives of those who come to OneLife to experience Jesus. There are weekday and Sunday opportunities. Get info about what opportunities there are for you!
4. Join a micro church! You can't have true community sitting in rows with a large crowd. That's not the church - it's an event! Micro churches are small "churches" of 10-12 adults that meet in homes throughout the week to learn together, pray together, serve the community together, and care for each other together.
Get more information about any of the above, send us your prayer requests so we can pray with you, or ask any question we can help you with by filling out the online connection card!
http://www.onelifeknox.com/connect1. Follow Jesus! If you have followed Jesus...
2. Get baptized! If you are following Jesus, then that's all you need to be "ready" to take this step.
3. Volunteer! Don't simply be a consumer, but be part of making a difference in the lives of those who come to OneLife to experience Jesus. There are weekday and Sunday opportunities. Get info about what opportunities there are for you!
4. Join a micro church! You can't have true community sitting in rows with a large crowd. That's not the church - it's an event! Micro churches are small "churches" of 10-12 adults that meet in homes throughout the week to learn together, pray together, serve the community together, and care for each other together.
Get more information about any of the above, send us your prayer requests so we can pray with you, or ask any question we can help you with by filling out the online connection card!