Rooted: Making Yourself Homesick 14 Mar 21

(Message 3) When we’re far from home, we become homesick. When we’re distant from those we love most, we think of them often and long to be with them. When we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, Heaven becomes our home. Join us as we take a look into what it means to be homesick for Heaven. #GCRooted

Be Heavenly Minded:

Send our money there
Surrender our will

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Colossians 3:1 – 4

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Matthew 6:19 – 21

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

1 Timothy 6:9 – 10

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

Have you ever watched a commercial on TV and then gone to the store/restaurant, bought it, and eaten it? What’s your food weakness?

Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.

Read Colossians 3:1-2. What does Paul mean by the phrase, “since you’ve been raised to new life with Christ?” Do you think of yourself as ‘raised to new life’?
According to verse 2, what effect should this resurrection life have on our thought life? If 1 is thinking about earthly matters and 10 is thinking about heavenly ones, what number would you give yourself this week? What can you do to move the number higher?
Read Matthew 6:19-21. What did Jesus mean when he said there is a direct connection between our money and our heart? Do these verses forbid saving money? What is the point Jesus is making?
If someone were to look at your spending habits over the last year, using the same scale from question 3, what number would they give you?
Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10. What ruin, destruction, and sorrows is Paul talking about in these verses? Have you ever seen this happen in your life or the life of someone you know?
Read Colossians 3:3-4. Pastor Troy said a 2nd way we become more heavenly minded is to surrender our will to God. Why do so many of us find it so difficult to die to this life and surrender completely to God? Have you ever surrendered your will completely to God? If not, what’s holding you back?

Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.

Is totally surrendering our will to God a one-time thing or is it something we may have to do more than once? Do you sometimes think God is in control when you’ve really taken over, even with good motives? Why? What are some safeguards that you can have in place to keep from taking over?
Do you desire heavenly treasure, Jesus, more than anything on earth? Or is your greatest desire for someone or something, some treasure this world has to offer? Is He the strength of your heart? Or do you trust in your own or someone else’s strength to find peace on earth? What tools can you use to move toward being more heavenly minded?

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

Commit this week to surrendering your will completely to Jesus. If there are things that are holding you back, pray God will help you surrender these things.

Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.