Uncommon Study - Week 1
Lesson One - The Power of Momentum
Part of Uncommon Study
January 30, 2020

Lesson One: The Power of Momentum

Momentum is simply the advantage gained by the force of a moving body that carries an object to its final destination. Every one of us has seen the power of momentum, whether that be watching a rocket break free of the earth’s gravitational pull, or your favorite team making a big play to change the course of a game. Just a couple of weeks ago I watched as the Wisconsin Badgers took a 21-7 lead over Ohio State into the locker room at half time in the Big Ten Championship game, only to have the Buckeyes come out and score seventeen straight points in the third quarter to completely change the momentum of the game.

In sports and life, momentum is everything and it is no different in our spiritual life. Recently you attended the No Regrets Men’s conference and hopefully it was a boost to your spiritual life. The conference is not meant to be just a one-day event, but rather a catalyst for life long change and transformation. This study is designed to help men continue the momentum that was created at the conference and carry it into our day- to- day lives. I know that the spiritual high of worshiping with thousands of men, and hearing one fantastic talk after another can soon wear thin when confronted with the realities of work, parenting and life. For breakthrough to truly happen in your life, it will involve the weekly meeting with other men, taking steps to apply what you learned and being in God’s Word on a regular basis.

As a former player and coach, I know there is nothing more powerful then momentum and I am so grateful you are taking the steps necessary to live Uncommon.

Goals for Lesson One
• To get to know the other men in your group and prepare for your journey.
• To talk through the group covenant

In Class
Introductions: Each man should take a minute to introduce him-self (keep it brief, you will have more time to share later):
• Your name
• Your family situation (single, married, kids, no kids, etc.)
• Your job, school or how you spend your time
• Which professional sports team best describes how you are doing right now and why?
• How can this group of men help you the most to continue the momentum from the conference?

Taking Care of Business
On every team there are certain organizational issues that must be in place for the team to work effectively and efficiently. It is no different for a small group. During this part of your meeting you will be looking at some ‘house keeping’ type matters that will make for a better experience for all.

Contact Information Sheet: The leader will pass around a sheet of paper to get your contact information so the group can stay in touch with each other. Make sure each guy has the leaders contact information in case you need to make contact with him outside the meeting time.

Walk through the group covenant. At the end of this study is a Group Covenant. This would be a good time to walk through and make sure everyone is in agreement with it. Every good team has some ‘team rules’ that make the team stronger and provide guidelines for team moral. This covenant is no different. It is not meant to be a bunch of rules, but rather some guidelines to make your group stronger and more effective.
One important note before you start this exercise: The goal in your group is for it to be a safe place where you can be honest with other guys. Therefore, one of the ground rules for you to follow is that “what happens in your group stays in your group.” This is vitally important!!! Everyone in the group must agree that they will not, under any circumstance, divulge what they hear in class, not even with a trusted friend or spouse. Agreed? Good!

Uncommon Intro Video: Now take the next eight minutes to view the opening message from Steve Sonderman. Steve is the founder of No Regrets Men’s Ministry and he will take a few minutes to introduce you to this study, what you can hope to get out of it, and what you will be asked to do.

Sharing Your Story
Every person in your group has a story. Their story is unique and it has the handprint of God all over it. From the beginning of your life, God has been working in your life, whether you realize it or not. There have been good times and hard times, times of joy and times of sadness. In this next section of the meeting, each person in your group will have 5-8 minutes to share their story as a way to kick-start the relational component of your group. After you have shared, the people in the group will have an opportunity to ask you questions. Take five minutes right now to make a few notes on what you would like to share with the guys based on the suggestions below. You do not have to share anything you feel uncomfortable sharing.

• Where did you grow up and what was life like in your family? How have they influenced who you are?
• What are some of your favorite memories of growing up, any events or circumstances that have left a mark on you positively or negatively?
• If married, where did you meet your wife and when did you get married?
• What is one of the most difficult things you have gone through as a man? How did this affect your relationship with God if at all?
• What has your spiritual journey looked like over the years? Where are you right now? Do you see yourself moving forward, stagnant or going over the edge?

During this time of the meeting we would like each man to take 5-8 minutes to share their story with the rest of the group. The leader of your group will go first and then each can follow. Remember, you can share as much or as little as you want about your past, no one is going to force you to share more then you feel comfortable.

Bible Study
The theme for the conference and this study is Uncommon and the verse we choose for it is Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Each week of the study the group will look at a section of scripture and discuss it. For some of you this may be the first time you have done something like this, don’t worry we will keep it simple, and not make it a deep theological discussion. We will look at the what the passage says and how it relates to our everyday life. Today we are doing to read through Romans 12, the chapter from which our theme verse comes and then discuss it.

Romans 12:1-18
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Discussion Questions
1. What do you think Paul means when he says we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices? How is this worshipping God?


2. What does it mean to be conformed to the world? What are some ways society tries to press us into its ways and pattern?

3. How does v3 help us to have a healthy view of ourselves? As a man how is our self image usually determined?

4. How does v4-8 give us a picture of how the church is supposed to function? In the passage Paul refers to spiritual gifts, what are they?

5. In the section v9-18 Paul gives us a picture of what love looks like. What are the different components of love as seen in this passage? How will the different aspects of this love be uncommon from the world, and its definition of love?

Talk through the homework for next week. Take time to look at the next lesson and make sure everyone knows what is expected of them before you meet next week. You will need to watch the opening video by Albert Tate that was given at the 2020 No Regrets Men’s Conference entitled, Uncommon. It can be found on the NR App. under Conference Media, 2020 Platform Speakers. The talk is 35 minutes long, so you will want to leave plenty of time to watch it and take notes. The notes section is in lesson two. We recommend you do it early in the week or space it out during the week and not try to do it all the night before!

Sharing and Prayer
In closing, each man share one highlight of this first study and one thing they would like prayer for. The leader will close the time in prayer.

Hopefully you have had a great time in your group today and I want to encourage you to get ready to come back next week ready to go.

Uncommon Group Covenant

In order to grow in my discipleship with Christ and to build authentic Christian community, I agree to the following standards:

  1. Total and Complete Confidentiality
    What I hear here, see here, and say here stays here. I will say nothing that may be traced back or that could be injurious or embarrassing to my group members. My group leader will refer me to a pastor if I am contemplating harming myself or doing harm to others.
  2. Share My Life
    I will be as open about my life as I can. I will be vulnerable with you, letting you know who I am as a person.
  3. Unconditional Love
    I will love you, respect you and affirm you no matter what you have said or done in the past. I will love you as you are and for what Christ desires you to be.
  4. Voluntary Accountability
    I will ask the group to hold me accountable for specific areas of my life. With my permission, you can ask me about the goals I set with God, my family, personal life, and world. I expect you to lovingly not “let me off the hook.” “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17). On the basis of this verse, I ask you to please share with me any areas in my life that do not reflect Jesus, because I want to grow in personal holiness.
  5. Pray for One Another
    I promise to pray for those in my group regularly and lift their needs to the Lord.
  6. Sensitivity to Where People Are
    I understand each person in this group is at a different point in his walk with the Lord. I will accept you the way you are, but encourage you to grow in the Lord. I will seek to create a safe environment where people can be heard and loved.
  7. Come Prepared Each Week to Participate
    I will have my work completed and I will make every effort to be at class; it will have high priority in my schedule. If I cannot attend, I will call the leader to let them know.

Signed

Date

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