ACTS 4:31-35 | LOOK AT JESUS, LOOK TO THE POOR

CFC SINGLES FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

CHAPTER ASSEMBLY TOPIC
HOW TO EMBRACE LIFE CHANGES

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of the session, the participants are expected to:
1. Reflect on the life changes they are experiencing at the moment
2. Realize that God has wisdom why He allows us to experience life changes
3. Resolve to have the right attitude when life changes happen to them

METHODOLOGY
Talk 45 minutes

SPEAKERS PROFILE
A CFC SFL Household Servant or Couple Servant living out the ideals of the talk

EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. Introduction

They say that the only constant thing in life is change. Changes are a constant part of our lives –
change in the workplace, change in our jobs, change in our routines, changes in the people
around us, change in our responsibilities, change in the expectations of others and all other
changes that come our way everyday.

As we look at Jesus and at how He works in our lives, we realize that we experience these
changes for a purpose. God allows changes to renew us and to bring out the best in us so we
could become better persons all the more.

II. Two Ways We Can View Change

A. Hate Change Attitude

Change is not always easy. At a moment when we have been so comfortable with who
we are and where we are, life changes aren’t that simple to take in. Because it is difficult,
we have the hate-change attitude. Instead of accepting change, we fear, we doubt and
we resist. What are some indications that we hate change?

1. When change comes, we resist.

We resist the change to avoid what it may bring. We resist and stop our journey out
of hesitation. We build walls and close our door. We stop and choose to remain

2015 | CFC SINGLES FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

 ACTS 4:31-35 | LOOK AT JESUS, LOOK TO THE POOR

where we are, to stay within our comforts. We disregard new opportunities and we
put less value on these new life possibilities. With this, we start to resist life growth
and end up stagnating where we are.

2. When change comes, we fear.

We fear the uncertainty life changes bring. We are afraid to be sent somewhere else.
We are afraid to let new people in. We fear new responsibilities. We fear
commitment. We fear getting hurt or hurting others. We are scared for in change we
think that we might lose something we have earned. We fear for in change we think
we might lose an important part of ourselves.

3. When change comes, we doubt.

We doubt that this certain change can bring you to something better. For most of us,
change means another problem to face. We choose to think negative over it. We
doubt that it can make us grow and learn. We doubt and so we choose to complain
and we end up sometimes escaping from it.

We fear, we doubt and we resist; and so we end up hating life changes. We fail to
appreciate the wisdom behind all of these life changes. We lose the opportunity to grow
in these. We resolve not to entertain any change and end up being stagnant and
indifferent with our own growth in life.

But no matter what we do, we can’t change the fact that change happens. Change is
constant, but we have to start seeing it in a different perspective – that more than any
kind of life change, the only constant in life is the love of God. And so we focus our gaze
on how loving He is to us. When changes come, we look at Jesus and we see these as His
way of loving us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever (Hebrews
13:8).

B. Embrace Change Attitude

For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in
advance, that we should live in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

We are God’s handiwork created to do the good things that He wants done. However, in
our raw form, He cannot use us. For us to be able to be used as God’s instruments, He
must mold and shape us. How does God do it? Through life changes.

No one can withstand you while you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses: I will not leave you
nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

2015 | CFC SINGLES FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

 ACTS 4:31-35 | LOOK AT JESUS, LOOK TO THE POOR

God promised Joshua that He will be with him in his new role as the leader of the
Israelites just as He did with Moses. Let us remember that in the many changes that
happen in our life, there is the unchanging presence of God. God is actively loving us
through these changes. He allows us to experience this for us to be transformed and
become the persons we are ought to be. And so, when changes come, we have to ACT
and start having the embrace-change attitude. For us to experience the fullness of these
life changes that God has intended for each one of us, we are called to openly embrace
every bit of it in acceptance, with courage and with confident trust.

1. Acceptance

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing
of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

James does not only advise us to accept the trials that come with change but to even
receive it with joy. By accepting it, our faith is tested and we produce perseverance
and other virtues.

When change comes, we must not resist it but instead accept and embrace every
single experience it brings. The only way for us to embrace change is to accept it.
Accept it and do not resist and run from it. Acknowledge the changes happening in
our lives. In our acceptance, we are to appreciate it. In it, we will learn. In it, we will
grow. In it, we are pushed to our limits. In it, our best comes out. In it, we will be a
step closer to a better version of who we can be.

2. Courage

Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be as one of
them, because he has insulted the armies of the living God. David continued: The LORD, who
delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of
this Philistine. Saul answered, “David, Go! The LORD will be with you” (1 Samuel 17:36-37).

David had the courage to face a tall enemy in Goliath because of 2 reasons: (1) he
remembered what God has already done for him and (2) he knew that God is with
Him. David showed us the key in facing the gigantic challenges is life’s changes.

When changes come, we must not fear but instead have courage that it is God loving
us through every bit of it. We must not fear to let new things come in our lives; it is in
the new things where growth comes in. We must not be scared of being pushed
beyond our comforts, for it is beyond where our best potentials shall come out. We
must not fear losing, for as these changes come from God, we shall lose nothing but

2015 | CFC SINGLES FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

 ACTS 4:31-35 | LOOK AT JESUS, LOOK TO THE POOR

instead gain everything. And at the end of it all, we will be in gratitude to Him seeing
that it was all worth it.

3. Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be
mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

When changes come, we must not doubt but instead we have trust that God has
wisdom for allowing these changes to happen in our lives. Doubt comes when we rely
on our own intelligence so we have to trust that in these changes, God has prepared
something for each one of us. We have to trust that God is molding us, renewing us
and is teaching us a lot of things He wants us to learn and remember.

Trust that God is in control and that He will take care of you as you embrace new
possibilities in your life. Trust that God will never abandon you in all of these. As He
promises in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know well the plans I have for you, plans to give
you welfare and not woe, plans to give you a future full of hope. He knows what He
is doing and He will bring out the best in you through all these life changes.

IV. Conclusion

“We think we have to change, grow and be good in order to be loved. But rather we are loved and we receive
His grace so we can change, grow and be good.” – John Powell

God loves us through the many changes in our lives. We have been having experiences of being
changed by the Lord a lot, and through it all, we have become the persons we are today. God is
outpouring His grace on us through our many experiences of change so we can grow and be
good.

God is giving us endless opportunities to grow better, to be much happier, to be loved and to
love all the more through the many life changes we are experiencing. And now we continue face
a new journey filled with a lot of change experiences.

Let us look at Jesus in all these changes. He has wisdom for all of it. He allows it so His plans can
happen in our life. Let us allow Him to change us. Let us allow Him to love us. Let us embrace the
many life changes we are experiencing in gratitude and hope. May we grow to be in joyful
anticipation of the many exciting changes that our lives may bring knowing that in every change
experience is an intimate love experience with the Lord.

2015 | CFC SINGLES FOR FAMILY AND LIFE