New City Church Phoenix

THE FINAL 24! No, not a new TV series on FOX but rather the amount of time left in our 21-day Daniel Fast.  I pray this has been a fruitful time for you. I’ve talked to so many who are fasting for the first time and they have seen their walks with God deepen.  I cannot tell you how grateful I am to hear those stories because that is what fasting is all about…denying ourselves in search of more of God.

Remember tomorrow night from 6:45-7:45 we will conclude the fast with a time of prayer and worship at our regular Sunday morning location.  (Childcare is provided.) Even if you’ve not participated in the fast we encourage you to be a part of this special night as we seek God’s direction and thank Him for all He has done.  And, if you still want in, you can join many of us in fasting from all food and taking only water the last 24 hours of the fast from tonight at 7:30 to tomorrow at 7:30.

Perhaps this scripture will encourage you like it has been me since last night:

7Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:7b-10.

MISSIONS. As many of you know my wife, Gina, and I will be leaving for India later this week and Brian Whitman and some other musicians at New City leave for Thailand next week.  We will do our best to keep you informed via the New City Facebook Page so make sure you check that out.  Rumor has it we might make some video appearances from Asia on Sundays too.  Should be fun.  Please pray that God would use us in a supernatural way as we go to build relationships, serve other pastors and give our time to the least of these.

We love you all.
Brian

The following content is based on the message “New City Church Vision 2012: Sacrificial Service” spoken on 01/15/12 by Brian Kruckenberg at New City Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is not meant to be a full synopsis of the message but rather a brief look at the main concepts. For more context and understanding, please visit newcityphx.com/media and listen to the message in its entirety.

Leaders using this Study Guide for group study and reflection should read the Biblical text thoroughly before beginning, using this resource as assistance and not relying solely on this material for insight. We encourage all leaders to pray and ask the Spirit for revelation as they lead their respective community.

The Scripture:
Matthew 6:16-18
16 ”Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Luke 10:25-36
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

The Key Ideas:

1. Fasting is always something God’s followers have done. The Hebrews fasted on the Day of Atonement (Lv. 16:29, 31; 23:27–32; Nu. 29:7). After the Exile, four other annual fasts were observed (Zc. 8:19) Some strict Pharisees fasted every Monday and Thursday (Lk. 18:12). In Acts leaders of the church fast when choosing missionaries (13:2–3) and elders (14:23). Paul twice refers to his fasting (2 Cor. 6:5; 11:27).

2. We fast when Jesus is “gone.” Jesus told His disciples that when he left they WOULD fast. Obviously Jesus the man is not still on earth so followers of His should fast. Further, when Jesus seems distant, it is often a good time to consider doing a fast as doing so can draw you closer to Him.

And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. Mark 2:19

3. Fasting is a sacrifice and moves BIG obstacles. We see evidence that prayer and fasting can focus our faith and reliance on God. (Matthew 17:21/Mark 9:9). It is often fasting that brings us to that place of complete dependence on God.

4. God’s people are sacrificial servants. The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-36) teaches us that those who follow Christ serve him with their time, talent and treasure.

5. Sacrificial service mean serving EVERYONE. The Good Samaritan shows us that we must serve even those we don’t like. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews, yet Jesus told the Jews to love their neighbors as themselves and then Jesus had the audacity to call a Samaritan a neighbor!

6. God’s heart has always been for the outsider. This new “missional” movement isn’t new at all. It is simply reclaiming the root of God’s movement on earth.

18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger by giving him food and clothing.19 So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. - Deuteronomy 10:18-19

7. Fasting and giving come out of our condition as 
beloved children of God. Remember, God’s name is “I AM” or simple “Be” and knowing you are “be”loved tells us that God loves us or, to put it another way, “‘I AM’ loved.”

Items for Reflection and Discussion

1. Have you ever fasted? If so, tell about your experience. What did God show you? What did He do?
2. If you’ve never fasted, why not? If it is for legitimate physical reasons that is understandable. However, remember that fasting is painful and sacrificial. It won’t be easy.
3. No Pain, No Gain was a popular saying related to physical exercise and growth. How does it apply to spiritual growth?
4. How do you serve God with your time and talent. (Remember, you aren’t earning anything by giving of your time, talent or treasure. Your condition is set before you do or give anything.)
5. How can you serve someone who you don’t like this week? It may be that neighbor who annoys your or your mother who has hurt your feelings.
6. Righteous is not earned but it must be practiced. Explain what that means. It might help to discuss about this quote: “For Jesus, obedience grows out of blessedness; the statement of our condition precedes the demands of our discipleship.”

The following content is based on the message “New City Church Vision 2012: Relentless Pursuit” spoken on 01/08/12 by Brian Kruckenberg at New City Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is not meant to be a full synopsis of the message but rather a brief look at the main concepts. For more context and understanding, please visit www.newcityphx.com/media and listen to the message in its entirety.

Leaders using this Study Guide for group study and reflection should read the Biblical text thoroughly before beginning, using this resource as assistance and not relying solely on this material for insight. We encourage all leaders to pray and ask the Spirit for revelation as they lead their respective community.

The Scripture:

34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together.35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,36 ”Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? “37 And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. ’38 This is the great and foremost commandment.39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40 (NASB)

1 ”Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 ”So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

5 ”When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 ”And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9 ”Pray, then, in this way: 
’Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 ’Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ’Give us this day our daily bread.12 ’And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ’And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:1-13 (NASB)

The Key Ideas:

1. To love God means a relentless pursuit. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus is describing those who relentlessly follow Him. Note Jesus’ message is more descriptive than prescriptive. It doesn’t so much prescribe certain behavior as much as it does describe the Christ follower. Jesus says the foremost commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. The things and people we love are worth our pursuit. Think about your favorite activity or a person you fell in love with. When you enjoy someone or something, you pursue it with relentless love.

2. Practicing our righteousness. Notice that Jesus tells us that giving, praying and fasting are a part of “practicing our righteousness.” This is extremely important to understand. Our righteousness is given to us by FAITH IN JESUS. We do not earn our righteousness but respond to the righteousness given to us by obeying our Savior. Those who respond to Jesus in faith are called His sons and daughters. That is their condition.

For Jesus, obedience grows out of blessedness; the statement of our condition precedes the demands of our discipleship. – I.D. Campbell

3. Give. Pray. Fast. Matthew 6 tells us that those who are relentlessly do these three things (there are many other things Christ-followers do of course): they give; they pray; and they fast. We will discuss two of those in this Study Guide.

• Give. Jesus says that those who love Him trust Him by giving. Throughout the Scriptures, God calls us to give and Jesus exhorts His disciples to do the same. (See Matthew 23:23; Acts 4:32, 34; Acts 11:30; Rom. 15:25–27; 1 Cor. 16:1-4.) We are called to give a minimum of 10% to the local church, who is charged with stewarding the resources for the overall good of the church; 10% of our gross earnings (the first fruits) is the command. That means if you make $100, you give $10; $100,000 then $10000 (the math is simple ). Remember, “because we don’t have much” isn’t a reason to refrain from giving. We give 10% of what we have. If you have 0 then you can give 0; otherwise, there is something to give. This isn’t a matter of a church “getting rich” but a matter of disciples obeying Jesus. Further, we give of our time and talent, loving God with all of our “soul and strength.” Every part of our life must be given to serving God.
• Pray. Jesus describes what it looks like to pray as His disciple and what it looks like to pray with the wrong heart. When is a prayer not a prayer? When it is a matter of public performance (v. 5), or of empty phrases strung together (v. 7), or when we ask God for something that we are not willing to grant to others (v. 15). Jesus gives us a “model” for prayer in what many know as the “Lord’s Prayer.” He tells us to pray to “OUR Father.” Interesting. Jesus could have said pray to “MY Father” but He specifically says “OUR Father.” Again, this is a statement of the condition of the believer. For some, thinking of God as a father can be difficult due to their relationship with their earthly father. No matter how terrible or Godly your earthly father was, there’s no chance he was perfect. BUT, your Heavenly Father is perfect. To come to God in prayer, YOU MUST believe that He loves you perfectly and that you are His son or daughter. It is critical for a healthy prayer life.

Henri Nouwen suggests that it is our lack of belief in this truth that threatens the very core of how we understand our relationship with God. He writes:

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, “Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody.” … [My dark side says,] I am no good… I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved.” Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” Henri Nouwen

Items for Reflection and Discussion

1. What or who have you pursued relentlessly. Why? How did you feel when you did so?
2. Explain in your own words the difference between “descriptive” and “prescriptive.” Why is it important to understand the difference?
3. Righteous is not earned but it must be practiced. Explain what that means. It might help to discuss about this quote: “For Jesus, obedience grows out of blessedness; the statement of our condition precedes the demands of our discipleship.”
4. Giving of our finances is something that Jesus talks consistently. Why? If it is difficult for you to give, discuss why. (Remember, “because we don’t have much” isn’t a reason to withhold.)
5. How do you serve God with your time and talent. (Remember, you aren’t earning anything by giving of your time, talent or treasure. Your condition is set before you do or give anything.)
6. When you pray, are you praying to OUR Father? Do you believe you are a son or daughter of God? Talk about this.
7. Discuss the quote by Henri Nouwen. What feelings or thoughts does it provoke?

“I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.” – Daniel 10:3

We pray that you will start your new year with a focus on the spiritual discipline of fasting. During this time of fasting, we will be doing the 21-day Fast Reading Plan found here. For 21 days, this devotional reading plan gives you a daily Bible reading, a brief devotional, reflection questions, and a prayer focus. Additionally, we encourage you to join the conversation on Facebook for updates and stories.

The Daniel fast is based on Daniel’s two fasts found in Daniel 1 and Daniel 10. We learn there that Daniel took a diet of vegetables and water. During this fast we will use www.daniel-fast.com as the main resource for “what to eat and what not to eat.” This diet allows fruits, nuts, grains and unleavened breads. This website suggests only water, but juices, natural teas, etc. are allowable. The big no-nos are meat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, sweets and breads. As is true in the tradition of many longer fasts, we will take Sundays off to celebrate the goodness of God by eating a normal diet. We pray you join us!

Our fast begins January 3rd and concludes on the evening of January 24th. On January 24th, we will celebrate with communion and a night of worship at New City Church (4331 N. Central Ave.) from 6:45-7:45.

If you’ve been out over the Christmas Holiday you may not have heard about the 21-day Daniel fast that we’ll be starting on January 3rd! During this time of fasting, we will be doing the 21-day Fast Reading Plan found at YouVersion.com. Additionally, we encourage you to join the conversation on our Facebook Page for updates and stories. On January 24th, we will celebrate with communion and a night of worship at New City Church from 6:45-7:45.

The Daniel fast is based the fasts found in Daniel 1 and Daniel 10. During this fast we will use daniel-fast.com as the main resource for “what to eat and what not to eat.” This diet allows fruits, nuts, grains and unleavened breads. This website suggests only water, but juices, natural teas, etc. are allowable. The big no-nos are meat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, sweets and breads. As is true in the tradition of many longer fasts, we will take Sundays off to celebrate the goodness of God by eating a normal diet. We are looking forward to starting off 2012 with an intense focus on what God has for us and we believe this fast is an important part of that!  We pray that you’ll join us!