Ignite - Ring of Fire
When cooking with a charcoal fire have you ever noticed what happens when one of the briquettes rolls off to the side separate from the others? It doesn’t burn as hot and it cools down much more quickly than the briquettes that are stacked closely to each other. We can learn an important spiritual truth from that.
Listen: Ignite - Ring of Fire - Introduction
Listen: Ignite - Ring of Fire
Sermon Notes
Your spiritual heat will rise to significantly higher levels when you’re in community with other people who also want to be white-hot for God. The heat gained by a group of people will always be greater than the heat you can create on your own.
5 benefits from being connected with an exercise workout partner:
- Greater results - Spur each other on to be better.
- More consistency - Accountability, no excuses.
- Higher motivation - Encouragement, add to the “fun factor.”
- Better execution - Partner helps you correct things, see blind spots.
- Increased skill set - Learn from each other.
These principles are not just applicable to exercise but also to diets, career, recovery programs, school, and our spiritual lives.
I am absolutely convinced that I cannot stay white-hot spiritually without being connected with other Christians. I am a much better Christ-follower, husband, father, pastor, and more when I am in community with others.
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. — Ecclesiastes 4:10-12
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. — Proverbs 27:17
Interview of spiritual partners Christi Mahar and Jim and Alice Gregorich.
- Live in the same neighborhood.
- Didn’t want another thing to have to do.
- After trying out the small group and building relationships it became an invaluable part of their lives.
- Was a turning point in Jim and Alice’s involvement at Cypress.
- Group made a huge impact supporting their family.
- Group has helped people become more consistent in their relationship with God.
Next Steps
- If you’re not in a Next Step Partnership, learn about the small groups, prayer partnerships, and ministry teams that are open to you. Try out several to find which one is the right fit for you.
Contact Us
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August 26th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
[…] be greater than the heat you can create on your own. If you missed the Sunday service, visit the sermon blog/podcast to listen to the teaching online, review and reflect on the sermon notes, and consider the next step […]
August 27th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
The sermon ignited a great deal of discussion in my household. As a leader in the church, my “small group” that I do community with does not function quite the same as most small groups, nor was it intended to be that way. However, because it is the only group I am currently involved with that consist of other believers, it is very important to me.
As I reflect back on the few small groups that we have been involved in, it has always been a fruitful experience, but like Alice expressed, adding one more thing into an already very full schedule just wasn’t going to happen.
I know that being involved in a small group will add so much to our lives. As it is, I often feel very alone and isolated from other believers. But it is also very important to be connected to the group. Ignite, yes, that is what we both want in our lives.
So we continue to pray, ignite our hearts to your will and direct us to the right group.
September 2nd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
[…] easier if you know what you’re looking for and know some basic do’s and don’ts. Visit the sermon blog/podcast to listen to the teaching online, review and reflect on the sermon notes, and consider the next step […]