IBC Small Groups

Spiritual Gifts

There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. (1 Cor. 12: 4-5)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12: 4-6)

Identify your spiritual gifts HERE.

GOING FOR THE GOLD

It is fun to see my children get excited and pull for certain athletes during the Olympics. I am personally amazed at the dedication of each athlete, and I love hearing the back stories of athletes. One characteristic of each athlete is dedication. They each are dedicated to their training because they each have a hunger to win.

 
Paul speaks of the same dedication in the Christian faith. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

 
August 5th we are beginning a new sermon series entitled “Going for the Gold.” This series will set the course for the next year, remind us of our high calling, and inspire us to live for Jesus like never before. I am anxious to begin this journey Sunday with each of you.

-Allen Bonnell

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in Heaven,

Let your name be honored and set apart as Holy.

Please, we want your Kingdom to fully come to earth.

We want your will to be done here as it is already done in heaven.

We ask that you continue to give us food for our bodies

and provide for the physical needs we have.

We also ask that you forgive us,

and restore us to the right relationship with you that our sin has hindered.

We will forgive others like you have forgiven us.

Keep us from Temptation,

you know how weak we are.

Please spare us from the evil one in this world

who wants to kill steal and destroy.

You alone can do these things,

because you have the power.

It is your kingdom.

You are glorious!

You are eternal, unchanging God!

Bless your name!

So be it.

Loving Creator

we honor you,

and we honor all that you have made.

Renew the whole world

in the image

 of your love.

Give us what we need for today,

and a hunger to see the whole world fed. Strengthen us for what lies ahead;

heal us from the hurts of the past;

give us courage to follow your call in this moment. For your love is the only power,

the only home, the only honor we need,

in this world and in the world to come.

Amen.

Dear Father always near us, may your name be treasured and loved,

may your rule be completed in us-

may your will be done here on earth in

just the way it is done in heaven.

Give us today the things we need today,

and forgive us our sins and impositions on you

as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.

Please don’t put us through trials,

but deliver us from everything bad.

Because you are the one in charge,

and you have all the power, and the glory too is all yours-forever-

which is just the way we want it!

O Father in heaven (may Your name be glorified!)

May Your reign be established and Your will accomplished

In this earth, just as it is in Your heaven.

Please give me today just what I need for today,

And forgive my sins, in exactly the same way

That I forgive those who have wronged and hurt me.

Please lead me, not into testing and trial,

But rather delivering me from the Evil One.

For the rule, and the authority, and the glory

Are all Yours forever. Amen.

Dear Father always near us,

may your name be treasured and loved,

may your rule be completed in us -

may your will be done here on earth

in just the way it is done in heaven.

Give us today the things we need today,

and forgive us our sins and impositions on you

as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.

Please don't put us through trials,

but deliver us from everything bad.

Because you are the one in charge,

and you have all the power,

and the glory too is all yours - forever -

which is just the way we want it!

Fall Discipleship Electives

Our Sunday night discipleship electives will begin August 12th at 5:30 pm. Our discipleship electives are small group settings that target specific areas of discipleship for adults. You will find our discipleship electives to be a freshening time of discovering new
truths from the Scriptures. We have four electives we are offering the first 6 weeks.

PLACE – a 6 week discovery of who we are in Christ and His purpose for us in His Kingdom. A spiritual gift assessment will be a component of the class. Taught by Pastor Nathan. The cost is $12.

Nehemiah – Taught by Heather McVey. The cost is $14. In this Bible study, Nehemiah’s heart for the oppressed, suffering and poor is a beacon whose light shines on the current call of the church to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Ruth – Taught by Sarah. The cost is $14. This 6-week study delves into the virtuous character of Ruth, her unique relationship with her mother-in-law Naomi, and her blossoming love with Boaz.

1 Timothy – Exploring the personal letter of 1 Timothy – “Fighting the Good Fight.” Taught by Pastor Allen

Being a Vessel to Bless Others

"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:24-25 

One of the reasons God entrusts money to us is to bless other Christians by meeting their needs. God uses the transfer of money within the Body of Christ to build unity among Christians. Sometimes we withhold money that God has designated for someone else. He wants to bless through us, but His will cannot be accomplished through us if we are disobedient. 

This was the case for a business owner who tells of the time when God told him to forego a company bonus one year. God directed him to share his year-end bonus with an employee to show his appreciation for him. He wrestled with God for three full days before obeying the Lord on the matter. When he finally met with the employee to give him his check, the man said he had been praying about a financial need he had three days earlier. He had decided to borrow the money to meet his need. The amount of money he borrowed was the exact amount the business owner gave him. 

God had already planned to provide for the employee through the business owner, but because he was hesitant, he almost missed the opportunity to be an instrument of God in this man's life. Even so, he could have prevented the man from having to borrow money. It was an important lesson for the business owner. 

How many people do we let down because we feel the "harvest" God provides is all ours? In America, the pressure is always on to move up the ladder of material accumulation. Jesus warned us about this. If our focus is on accumulation, we will not look for opportunities to be God's vessels of financial blessing to others. Ask the Lord if you have an open hand when it comes to finances.