Clean House – Part One
· GOALS & GUIDELINES:
· ICEBREAKER:  Fashion does or does not matter because…
· AGREEMENT PRAYER
· PRAISE 
· EDIFY:    

There is an entire list of things that are considered seasonal or time specific; Spring cleaning, season specific decorating,   New Year Resolutions, summer vacation, tax time, etc…   For whatever reason we slot these actions into very specific time periods.  In our text Jesus challenges our thinking in this regard.   He is actually making a spiritual application based on a natural observation, but the principal holds.  DO NOT BUY INTO THE IDEA THAT SOME THINGS CAN ONLY BE DONE AT CERTAIN TIMES.

You can clean in the fall as well as the spring.  You can take a vacation in winter.  And Jesus said you can harvest four months before anyone thinks you can.  

Q- Why do people think that some things can only be done at certain times? 
Q- What is something you have been waiting for the right “time” to do?   (Forgive, commit, repent of, start…)   

We are rapidly approaching the end of the year and this is a time when people reassess life and make enormous commitments to improvement. They are going to get fit, handle their time better, get a grip on finances, become better house keepers, spend more time with loved ones…  For whatever reason we think that this narrow window of time in at the beginning of the New Year is the only time to make these commitments.   We are going to reject that thinking.  Anytime is the right time to make a commitment to move in the right directions for your life.   Anytime is the right time to forgive and move forward.  Anytime is the right time to repent and change the direction of your life.   You do not have to wait four months until the harvest, and you do not have to wait for the end of the year to make fresh starts.  

Q- Why are you waiting to do what could and should be done now?

The Apostle Paul stood before a king named Felix and attempted to persuade him to become a follower of Jesus Christ. 

Felix waited for a convenient season.  Here is a truth you must embrace; There is never a convenient season for making hard choices, tough commitments, and doing the right thing. It always seems like four months from now will be better, that this is not the right season for that step, etc…   Jesus flat out tells us to quit saying that.  In the KJV John 4:35 says “say not there are four months…”  Quit thinking and saying there will be a better moment to make the moves you need to make to move your life towards your God given destiny.  

Something that is repeated often in scripture is an instruction to a dying person to “set your house in order”.  It is basically an instruction to a person to get their affairs in order, make their wishes known, repair relationships  that mattered, honor agreements and commitments, because a person’s time in life was drawing to a close.  This seems to be a really bad strategy.  Instead of positioning yourself to die why not position yourself to live?   Why not get your house in order so that you can really live and enjoy your life?   Why not make the moves NOW, however tough they may be to make, that will move you in the direction of a better, more productive, God honoring life? 

Normally our last question is an internal question. Let’s be transparent with this last question… 
Q- What would it take to get your life positioned to really live?  What is the next step?  Are you ready to start?
<Pray>	

VISION: Remind yourself and each other this week by using this phrase everyday - “My New Life Starts Today.” Flood Facebook, text, email, send a letter… do something that reminds someone to Start Now! Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.  

Goals and Guidelines
1.	Grow in relationship with each other
2.	Grow in relationship with God
3.	Grow in number and multiply
   This is a non-denominational meeting where everyone's thoughts, ideas, and opinions are to be respected. Everyone is welcome and we encourage all to share their feelings.

We will not argue or debate!  
We place God's Word as the highest authority.

We all share equally in the ownership of this Connect Group, therefore we will all participate in hosting meetings from house to house on a weekly basis.

We will be committed to attendance and arriving on time.  

When sharing, we follow 3 simple rules...
Stay on subject
Keep it short
Keep all comments appropriate.

We will build confidence and trust with each other and become transparent.

What is said in here stays in here. No gossip!

Last but not least…  We will invite others to our Connect Group!

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Acts 24:25(NIV) As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

John 4:35(Message) As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It's harvest time!