Passages Used:

Ephesians 6:10-14; Matthew 7:24-27; John 18:33, 37; Matthew 5:38-45; John 13:34-35; John 18:38; Matthew 7:24-27; Proverbs 2:1-15; Psalm 86:11; Colossians 3:5-17; Luke 4:16-19;

Questions:

How would you define the word truth? What standards or tests do you use to judge whether something is true or not?

A common way to investigate the truth is to talk to someone we trust, how does someone prove themselves to you, to be a trusted person? Was there ever a time you trusted someone and they broke that trust - what happened?

What evidence have you looked into to see that the Bible can be trusted?

How has God gained your trust? Or how has God lost your trust?

Why is it easy for so many to follow untruth without realizing it?

Have you ever had a time in your life where you were deceived into believing a lie? What led you to the truth? How did it feel to experience freedom of the truth?

In what ways are you proclaiming truth to the people around you?

How does this Life Group help you and your family experience truth?

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Passages Used:

Ephesians 6:10-13; Colossians 1:16; 2 Kings 6:16-17; Ephesians 3:16,20; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:2-4; Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 2:1; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 12:10; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Psalm 119:11; 1 John 2:14; Revelation 12:11

Questions:

Do you believe in an unseen realm all around us? Why or why not? How does this unseen reality interact with us?

How does knowing about an unseen reality make life harder? How does it make things easier?

If our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), why is it so easy to see other people as the enemy?

What methods does satan employ to distract us and attack us from this unseen reality?

How do we combat against this unseen reality? Where does the battle take place?

What are areas in our world that we would call “strongholds” of darkness for satan and the unseen reality?

How did Jesus triumph over satan and the unseen reality that we face?

If Jesus triumphed over it, why do we still have to fight?

How can this Life group pray for you and the battles that you face this week with the unseen reality around you?

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Passages Used:

Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:47-55; Psalm 100:5; Matthew 11:28; John 14:23; John 3:16; Psalm 18:25; Luke 2:19; John 11:25-26; John 14:19; I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:1-5;

Questions:

Mary was visited by an angel who foretold her about Jesus, have you ever felt/heard/seen God tell you something? If so, what did he tell you?
In Luke 1:38, Mary’s shocking response is that she is God’s servant, Why is that a shocking response? What would your response have been in the same situation?
It seems like every example in the Bible, of people who followed God faithfully, all of them experienced hardships, why do you think that is? Is that true for us who follow faithfully too?
Zoe discussed six promises of God’s faithfulness, which promise gives you the most hope? The promises are:

to be with us (Deut 31:8, Joshua 1:9,Ps 23:4,Heb 13:5,Mt 28:20 ) to send us the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 1:22) that nothing can separate us fromHis love (Rom 8:39) that those who trust Jesus have eternal life (John 6:40, John 3:16) that He will forgive our sin we’ve confessed (1 john 1:9) that those who seek Him with all their heart, will find him(Jer 29:13) 5. How have you personally experienced God’s faithfulness?

As this year comes to a close, what are some ways that we can trust God’s faithfulness as a group moving into 2021?

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Passages:

Luke 2:9-10; Romans 14:17; John 15:10-11; Romans 8:1-4; Philippians 4:2; Philippians 2:2; Psalam 51:10-12; Philippians 4:4-7; Habbakkuk 3:17-18; James 1:2-3; Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 2:3-5; Luke 9:23-24

Questions:

What is bringing you the most joy about life right now?
What is true joy? How is it different from happiness?
Talk about a time you in your life where you experienced pure joy? What was it like? What happened? Do you still feel that thinking about the experience today?
What things in your life steal your joy?
How do you bring joy to other people?
Why does Paul link being like-minded to each other with Joy (Philippians 2:2)? How is love linked to joy?
How can unrepentant sin keep you from experiencing joy (Psalm51:10-12)? Have you ever had unrepentant sin that kept you from experiencing joy?
How can we as a life group help each other to experience joy more often (even in the middle of a pandemic)?

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Passages used:

Isaiah 9:2; Hebrews 11:1; Luke 1:32-33; Isaiah 40:26; Psalm 147:3-4; Isaiah 40:28-31; I Peter 1:3-4; Romans 5:1-5; Lamentations 3:22-26;

Questions:

How would you define hope?
Why does the Christmas season bring hope to so many people?
As you look at your own life, your family, relationships, nature, God, and the universe, where do you see hope?
How does stress affect hope?
What do you do to destress your life?
Now that we are officially moving into the Christmas season, what is stealing your hope? What is giving you hope?
What can this group do to bring hope to others during the Christmas season?

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Questions: 1. The story of the prodigal son is one of the most well loved stories in the Bible. Why do you think people love this story so much? What aspects resonate most within you?

The prodigal son "comes to his senses" what does this mean?
How do you define repentance? What has repentance looked like in your own walk with Jesus?
Which character in the prodigal son parable do you most identify with? The Father? The younger son? Or the Older brother? Why?
Why did Jesus claim to not know people who prophesy in Jesus name, cast out demons, and perform miracles (Matthew 7:22-23)? What does it mean to know Jesus?
What makes you sure Jesus knows you?
Who are three "prodigal sons" you can personally pray for to come back to the father?

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Questions: 1. Joshua makes a clear line in Joshua 24:15 that he will follow the One True God, when did you make that decision? If you haven't, what holds you back?

What is it about Coca-cola that has made it so popular all across the world? If the Gospel is good news, why hasn't it made it around the world like Coke?
Why do you think Jesus compared his followers to salt and light? (Matthew 5:13-16) What aspects do you personally possess of both salt and light?
How have Christians made the world a better place?
What is it about Heritage that makes it stand out in our community of Westerville and the world?
What areas could you see Heritage stepping into in the next couple years that could impact the world for Christ?
How can YOU specifically step out and be salt and light in the world around you?

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Questions:

Why do you think John 15:12-14 tells us to be connected to Jesus before we love one another? Why would that primary connection be important?
What makes loving other people difficult?
Why do you think the writers of the Bible encourage us to love one another so often?
Is it easier or harder for you personally to show love to Christians or non-Christians?
Can a Christian grow when disconnected from a body of believers? Why or why not?
When have you felt the most "at home" with your church family? What traits were present during that time?
What are the ways you've found connection at Heritage? What are some ways you've felt disconnected at Heritage?

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Life Group Questions:

If you could go back and live at any other time, when would you chose and why?
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says that God will heal the land when his people turn from their wicked ways. Why does healing follow as a result of God's people repenting rather than those outside of God repenting? Is this counter intuitive?
Who are God’s people? How do we become one of God’s people?
What does true humility look like? Why is God against arrogance?
How often do you pray (not counting before meals or at church)?
What does it mean to seek the face of God?
How do cell phones, social media and technology distract us away from seeking God’s face?
Have you ever had to repent of sin in your life? Do you still struggle with those same sins?
What are the consequences for having personal unrepentant sin?
What are the consequences for having corporate unrepentant sin?

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Questions:

If you could go back and live at any other time, when would you chose and why?
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says that God will heal the land when his people turn from their wicked ways. Why does healing follow as a result of God's people repenting rather than those outside of God repenting? Is this counter intuitive?
Who are God’s people? How do we become one of God’s people?
What does true humility look like? Why is God against arrogance?
How often do you pray (not counting before meals or at church)?
What does it mean to seek the face of God?
How do cell phones, social media and technology distract us away from seeking God’s face?
Have you ever had to repent of sin in your life? Do you still struggle with those same sins?
What are the consequences for having personal unrepentant sin?
What are the consequences for having corporate unrepentant sin?

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Small Group Questions: (Family Application Questions below)

What was the make up of your family growing up? (Mother, father, siblings, step-family, etc.)
Andy said, “A strong marriage relationship is the foundation to a home” - how have you found this to be true either in your home life as a child or now as an adult?
Can you think of a time in your life where you learned how to do something not by being taught how to do it, but by being around someone and catching on?
If someone were to follow you around, what would they learn from you simply by how you live your life? How would they experience Jesus through you?
Where do you feel most at home?
How did your parents demonstrate trust toward you while growing up?
How do you (or would you) demonstrate trust with your own kids?
How can this Life Group help you navigate faith as a family?

Family Application Questions:

What are some things our family does or has done because we love Jesus? Are there other things you wish we did?
Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What does it mean to trust God? How does God direct our paths?
Pastor Andy specifically talked about the importance of us trusting each other more, especially as we get older. How can trusting God help us be a healthier family? How can trusting God help us trust each other more?

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Life Group Questions: (scroll for Family Discussion Questions)

Are there differences between a christian family and a healthy secular family? Should there be?
What methods did you use when dreaming and planning for a family of your own? Was there a book you read? A person who imparted their wisdom? A method you focused on?
What was your upbringing like? Did you have both parents? How did they disciple you? Was faith a part of your home?
Are familial relationships important to God? Why or why not?
Why do you think adults try and hide failures from their kids? Do you find that healthy?
How does someone honor their father and mother as an adult?
What’s the most difficult part of honoring your father and mother?
What do you think is required of a godly grandparent when it comes to passing down of faith to the grandchildren?

Family Discussion Questions:

What do you think Joel meant by relational power? How did Jesus use his relational power? What does serving each other using acts of service (like our project today) have to do with relational power?
The Bible says kids can best use their relational power when they obey and honor their parents. What makes this hard? What’s something you don’t like to obey? What would happen if you asked Jesus to help you obey?
How would your relationship with your family change if you respected everyone in your family?

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Life Group Questions: (scroll down for Family Questions)

What is the Kingdom of God? Why do you think Jesus spoke of it so often?
Why does the idea of the Kingdom of God draw some people in and pushes others away?
How do we stay focused on the Kingdom of God, when so much is happening around us? Do you think the circumstances we find ourselves in currently are worse than other times in history?
Have you felt deceived and needed to repent from thinking politics and power are the answer rather than the kingdom of God?
What does repentance look like?
How do you know when you are following Jesus? Read I Timothy 1:2-5, what is the test Paul gives Timothy to know he is following Jesus?

7. How do you treat others that disagree with you? Is it with the love that Jesus and Paul says comes from the Kingdom of God?

Family Discussion Questions:

When you thinking about the word “kingdom” what images come to mind (Mark 1:14-15)? How is God’s kingdom different from those pictures? How is it similar?

Pastor Pavi says that the word for today is “repent.” Jesus says to repent, believe and follow him. What does it mean to repent? (hint: it means to turn away from sin and false hope or anything that is less than God that we might be following.) How can we do this?

for families with younger kids: Have you decided to follow Jesus? What does that mean to you? How can you live that out his love this week?

for families with older kids: Pastor Pavi said that we can know for certain if we are following Jesus when our thought, words, actions, decisions, etc., are full of the love of Jesus “flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” Read 1 Cor 13:4-7. Is this how you treat others? Why or why not? What is something you can do this week as you follow Jesus?

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Life Group Questions: (scroll down for family questions)

What are you connected to right now that meets your social and spiritual needs?
Read Rev. 3:15-16,20 - What does lukewarm faith look like?
When was the last time you had a one on one conversation with someone about Jesus?
What do you think it means to abide in Jesus? Would you say you are doing that now?
Have you ever been asked about your faith? What did you say?
What ‘fruit’ in your life do you point to and know you are abiding in the true vine?
When you feel stripped away of everything, how do you hold tight to Jesus?
Do you feel at home with Jesus? Why or why not?

Family discussion questions:

What is your favorite place in our home? What do you like about it? Have you ever felt “at home” somewhere that is not our house (or apartment)? Why did you feel “at home” there?
What does it mean to abide in, or be at home with Jesus?
What are things we could do as a family to help each other abide in Him?

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Life Group Questions: [Family questions below]

Take a personal assessment of life over the past several months, how have you seen God working in your life?
In Mark 5:25-34 we find a woman who has struggled with a physical ailment for 12 years, what would you say has been one of your greatest struggles in life?
What’s one thing you would ask Jesus to fix if you could experience immediate healing?
What are some positives and negatives you have experienced through social media?
How do you protect yourself and your family from the dangers of social media?
Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light, how have you experienced an ease because of following Jesus?
What’s a burden in your life that you feel confident Jesus has taken from you?
What’s a burden in life you’ve been carrying that you need to give to Jesus?

Family Questions:

Mr Andy Holt talked about burdens and how hard life can be. Our activity reminded reminded us that even when life is hard, God is at work to make it beautiful. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Andy also taught us that we can give hard things to Jesus.

What things have been hard for you this week?
How can we give these hard things to Jesus?
Where have you seen God at work recently? (It doesn’t have to be something big, maybe it is, but maybe it’s something simple that reminded you of Him.) And, how does your memory of God at work make you feel?
What can we do as a family this week to keep looking for Jesus in our lives?

Take time as a family to pray together. One simple way to include everyone would be to ask each person to say “Thank you God for___________” It can be anything including the way that they saw Him at work this week.

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Life Group Questions:

This week we kicked off a series titled “At Home,” where do you call home? - Is there a town or state, address, etc that you claim as home?
When you think of home, how do you feel? Is it a place of peace? A place of stress? A place of loneliness? A place of joy? Or something else?
Andy referenced a passage from John 15 about being connected to the vine of Christ, what does that mean?
Why do you think Jesus says we can do nothing apart from him? (John 15:5) How would you explain people around us who are disconnected from the vine of Christ and that are seemingly able to do good things (example mentioned: Bill Gates). Do these actions conflict with what Christ said?
How do you and your family stay connected to the vine of Christ?
Next week, we open with being at home in Christ, what does that mean to you?
How can this life group be a place that helps you find your home in Christ?

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Passages:

Habakkuk 3:17 Habakkuk 2:4 Psalm 121 Habakuk 3:2-6 Habakkuk 3:17-19

Application Questions:

It’s easy to look at 2020 and only see what we’ve missed out on, what are some things you are thankful for this year?
Do you think it’s its easier to remember the good or the bad of 2020? Why do you think that?
When you feel overwhelmed by the difficulties of life, how do you re-focus and center yourself toward Jesus?
Many stories through the Bible demonstrate God using bad circumstances to accomplish his will, when have you experienced this in your own life?
Do you find it easier to surrender to God’s will when things are going well, or when things are going poorly?
How do you personally rejoice?

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Application Questions:

What does it mean to be commissioned, anointed, and sent on mission? Do you feel these in your own life?
Where do you see your greatest mission field?
What’s been your best method for demonstrating the love of Jesus to the people around you?
What does the word “Gospel” mean to you?
Have you ever shared the gospel with someone? What happened?
How would you explain the Gospel to someone who asked you?
Who is one person in your life the group could be praying that you have an opportunity to share the gospel with this week?

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Application Questions:

Why does faith in Jesus require us to be in community with others?
Why is it good that Heritage is made up of people with different viewpoints? How could that breed disunity?
What would it look like to do “Nothing from selfishness or empty conceit”? Have you ever been able to do this? Do you know anyone that operates this way?
What emotion dominates people who are impatient?
What does genuine community look like to you? Have you found a space to experience genuine community?
How does the act of communion demonstrate to us the unity of the spirit?

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Application Questions:

Why is the question ‘what is most important commandment’, a difficult one to answer? In what ways was Jesus’ answer simple and profound? (Mark 12:28-34)
Pavi simplified Jesus’ response as “Love God and Love Others”, do these five words encompass all of the Christian faith? Why or why not?
Describe a moment in your life where you truly felt like you had worshiped in the presence of God - when was it? What did it feel like?
In the previous question, how many in your group described a deeply and powerful emotional experience? Do you think worship is tied to the experience of powerful emotions?
What are some Biblical methods to express worship to God?
What is it that most opens up your heart to God’s love for you?
How is worship a part of your natural routine?
How can this Life Group encourage you this week to find more opportunities to worship?

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Application Questions:

What challenges have you faced and what blessings have you received in 2020 so far?
In what ways has the issues of 2020 changed the way you think?
How do you personally keep Jesus at the center in the midst of a difficult year?
What does a spirit of fear look like? (2 Timothy 1:7)
How does love, power and sound mind combat fear? (2 Timothy 1:7)
Heritage looks at Church as simply being worship, community, and mission. How have you experienced these elements in your own life?
What area has been the most difficult for you to engage during this shut down time of our community?

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Application Questions:

Describe a time in your life you wore or did something in order to fit in, or because it was expected, that wasn’t what you would normally do? i.e. Andy wore a tie
In what ways have you restricted your own freedoms in order to win people to the gospel?
What right are you willing to give up for the sake of someone discovering Jesus and finding salvation? Are there any rights you are unwilling to give up for the sake of the gospel?
Romans 12:1-2 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by renewing our minds, what does this look like in your life?
When have you felt God closing a door in your life?
When Paul entered Athens he felt surrounded by idols, what surrounds you in this culture?
Paul used the idol to an unknown god as a bridge to the one true God. As you think about our culture, and Westerville, what are some ways to bridge the current culture back to the Gospel of Jesus?
Andy ended the message with these four challenges:
What rights are you willing to let go of for the sake of winning others to Christ?
Purify your hearts and motives and then make the decisions with courage
Start Turning on the light in your worlds you can find e person of peace
Ask God for discernment to share the gospel in an appropriate way Which of these challenges do you need the most accountability from the group to accomplish?

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Application Questions

Pavi and Andy have led us halfway through the book of Acts, has there been anything surprising or interesting for you from the book of Acts?
Throughout the Old Testament God’s focus was on the nation of Israel, why do you think Jesus shifts this focus to all nations? Why is this significant to us today?
Do you feel this idea that, all nations should be welcomed into God’s church, is fully actualize in the church of today? Why or why not?
Pavi said, “Our connection to one another through Jesus should be infinitely more important than our differences with one another on politics, race, or any other issue.” When do you see moments when it seems Christians are more concerned with other issues than the unity of the Church?
Why do you think it’s so easy to divide up believers?
When have you experienced a Christian more worried about being “right” than being “loving”? (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
What does genuine love from a follower of Christ look like to the world around them?
How have you shown genuine love to the world around you in the last month?

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Application Questions: 1. How do you think the diversity of the Antioch Church helped shape the mission for the early church?

Andy said we need to be careful not to dress the gospel in our own cultural clothes because we risk making it about the clothes rather than Jesus. In what ways has the Church made it about the clothes rather than Jesus?
What is the difference between a church attender and a follower of Jesus?
What does it mean to ‘disciple’ someone? Who has discipled you? Are you currently being discipled or discipling someone?
How has the significance of the word “christian” changed in your lifetime?
How does the the church building both limit and encourage mission?
Would you call yourself a Christian or does everyone who knows you call you Christian?
What is one extraordinary thing you could do this week that points people to Jesus?

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The Bible says Stephen was full of the spirit, what does that mean? Have you ever met someone you would say is “full of the spirit.”
Andy described being full of the spirit as having faith, wisdom, power and grace, which of these do you sense is a strength in your life? Which is an area you struggle?
Stephen is known as the first recorded Christian martyr (except Jesus), do you know any other martyr’s for the Christian faith?
Are there ways Christians in America are experiencing persecution? If so how?
Have you ever been scared for your life to live out your faith?
The Bible says that the followers of Jesus will face persecution, how does living in the United States shield us from the types of persecution found throughout history and our world today?
Why does God seem to allow intense persecution in some regions of the world, while Christians in other parts of the world remain generally safe?
What are some ways we can come alongside and support Christians who are experiencing persecution?

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Application Questions:

How does Jesus unite heaven and earth? What does that mean for you?
How are you actively bringing heaven to earth in the world around you?
How does it make you feel to know God has prepared good works for you to do?
What does it mean to be God’s handiwork? One translation actually says we are his masterpiece, have you ever thought of yourself as God’s masterpiece?
God desires his people to be unified (Ephesians 2:13-18), what are signs that point to a priority of unity within the church in today’s world and specifically Heritage?
Have you ever experienced disunity in a church, how did that effect your faith journey?
How could the church acting in perfect unity pave the path toward peace in our world?
In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul describes putting on a new self, in what ways have you put on a new self while following Christ?
How can this Life group help you to press forward into the new self that Jesus is calling you to be?

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Application Questions:

Paul shared his Jewish lineage in Philippines 3:4-6 including where he was born, and the traditions he kept. How has faith been kept in your family?
Have you ever had a moment where you realize everything you believe to be true about an issue is based on a complete misunderstanding of the facts? What happened?
What would it take for you to believe someone was literally God?
The Jewish essential beliefs were being redefined and reconfigured around Jesus himself. Has your theology changed while following Jesus?
Have you had a moment, like Paul, where God led you to rethink your faith? What happened?
Why do you think God choses specific groups of people to be his voice in the world?
Paul spent 30 years of his life traveling and telling others about Jesus, what does telling others about Jesus look like in your life?

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Application Questions:

We learn in Acts 10:1-4 that God spoke to Cornelius through a dream (vision) and Andy told some stories of many followers today all across the world that found Jesus through a vision and someone coming to fulfill that vision. Have you ever had a vision or dream that God fulfilled? What was it and what did that feel like?
Why do you think God uses his followers rather than angels to be carriers of the gospel?
Andy made the point that we overcome prejudice through a journey of repentance (2 Cor. 10:4-5) - literally changing the way we think. How do we practically change the way we think?
Peter had to learn that God didn’t have favorites, figuring this out opened up the world to the Gospel. How does the church, and we as individuals, still struggle with this false idea that God has favorites?
“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” - Benjamin Franklin. Do you feel this is true? Why do you find it true/false?
Have you looked at the Heritage Reconciliation resource page? If so, what resources did you or are you going to check out?
How is God renewing your mind and changing the way you think?

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Exodus 1:8-11 Exodus 2:23-25 Exodus 3:7-10 Amos 5:21-24 Isaiah 42:1-4 Luke 4:18-19 Ephesians 6:10-18 2 Corinthians 2:11 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 Isaiah 30:18 Acts 1:8 Psalm 139:1-10; 23-24

Application Questions:

What are you feeling as you see the news, hear the reports, and engage others on social media about current events?
Pavi said there are three question he has been reflecting upon, which one resonates with you the most? The questions were; Where is God to be found in the midst of all of this? Who or what is the real enemy? What are we to do?
What does it mean that God stands with the oppressed? How does he do this?
Have you every felt like an injustice occurred against you? Can you describe that situation?
What does the justice of God look like? Is it experienced in the present or future?
Why do you think it’s so easy to focus on the fight with flesh and blood rather than the fight against “rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:10-18)?
Have you ever felt you were complicit in allowing injustices to occur around you? Did you ever get a chance to seek reconciliation and justice afterwards?
What does it mean to lament? Have you lamented injustice before?
How can your group take these practical steps together? Pavi’s practical steps were: Get Informed Get Together Get Going

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Key verses:

2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8, Colossians 1:3-6, Amos 5:21-24, Matthew 5:23-24, Romans 5:5, Acts 2:44-47, Luke 12:32-34

Questions for discussion:

What was the old normal like for you, before you started following Christ?
Contrast that with the new normal of being a new creation.
Why would you say that faith in Jesus, or being a true worshipper, translates to faithfulness to Jesus, and not our position on various issues.
Why do many reduce faith in Jesus to beliefs about doctrines?
Why is it so easy for our hearts to drift from surrender?
What is the effect on us of telling Jesus that we love Him?
Describe the radical behavior of the early church.
What does “we are the message” mean?

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Questions for discussion:

In what ways would you say that community is baked into our souls?
Is there an example of community in the Bible that stands out to you?
How do we become so self reliant?
What are reasons that we don’t invest in community?
Why do we need community to complete our mission?
Have you been hurt by someone that you were in community with? How did you move past it?
What purpose for community is most meaningful to you?

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Key verses: Isaiah 66:13 Proverbs 31:28, 29, 31 Isaiah 49:15-16 Ephesians 3:14-21

Questions for discussion:

What stood out to you when you heard the testimonies of Pavi and Andy about their moms?
Share about your mom.
Can you share a favorite memory of your mom?
What role did your mom play in your life?
What is the lasting impact of your mother on you?
What emotions does Mother’s Day stir up within you?

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Questions for discussion

State the four “fringe” benefits of being in Christ mentioned in Philippians 2:1-4. Which is most meaningful to you right now?
State the four corresponding responsibilities that these four “fringe” benefits lead to. Which of them do you need to give the most attention to right now?
Why is it so easy to get drawn into political arguments?
Why is humility essential to living the Christian life?
How do humility and unity work together?
How does the humility of Jesus affect you?
How can we change our mindset to grow in humility?
What is a practical way that you can look out for the interests of others this week?

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Questions for discussion

How does Jesus address the unbelief of His disciples after the resurrection?
What was the difference in the disciples before and after the resurrection?
How would you personally describe the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in you, as evidence of the risen Christ?
Why is it so easy to build a fortress mentality within the church?
Describe the role that the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures play in your faith.
How should the purpose of the Spirit work out in our lives?
How can you align yourself more with the purposes of the Holy Spirit during this time of social distancing?
Why were the disciples slow to believe in the resurrection?

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Key verses

Exodus 12:1-13

Luke 24:17-36

Questions for discussion

Compare the first Passover in Egypt with the sacrifice of Jesus.
How would you compare the exodus of Israel to what believers in Christ experience?
What was Jesus saying when He declared Himself to be the lamb of God?
Why do you think that the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus? What did they not understand? Why do we not recognize Him for who He is at times?
In the village to which they were going, Jesus took the bread, He blessed it, He broke it, and He gave it to them. How do these words contain the entire story of Jesus, our Passover Lamb? How do they contain the entire story of our walk with Jesus?
How is this world in a season of breaking at this time? How are you in a season of breaking?
Why do we resist lamenting grief?

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Key verses Luke 24:1-12 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 Galatians 2:20

Questions for discussion:

Why does the empty tomb represent one of the greatest reversals in history?
What do you think the women were thinking on their way to the tomb?
When things don’t go the way that we expect them to, why is it so easy to experience despair?
What is the strongest evidence that the resurrection is a historical fact, to you?
Why would you say that Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection?
If the evidence for the resurrection is so convincing, why don’t more people believe it?
If Christ has not been raised from the dead, why are we of all people most to be pitied?
What would it mean for you to live the resurrected life? What would it take for you to live the resurrected life?

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Questions for discussion

The gospel of John uses the word, the “hour” throughout the book. How would you describe the hour of Jesus?
Why is Jesus reluctant to reveal His power until that hour comes?
What do you understand the glory of God to be?
How is God’s glory tied to the cross?
Explain the statement, we want the resurrection life, we want the crown, but we don’t want the cross.
Can you share ways that you have suffered this past week? In what ways have you experienced fear or anxiety?
What helps you to follow Jesus to the cross?

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Key verses Luke 22:66-Luke 23:25

Questions for discussion

What does it tell you about Jesus that He allowed sinners to sit in judgement of Him at His trials?
What do we learn about the religious leaders, about Herod, and about Pilate at the trials? What were their motivations?
In what ways do we need to be careful not to be like the religious leaders?
How would you describe the spiritual battle?
How have you personally been affected by the spiritual battle this week?
In what ways is this momentary pause in the midst of our current crisis like a gift from God?
What does it seem that you are learning in this Unlikely Path of Hope series?

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Key verses: Luke 22:54-62 John 1:35-42 Luke 5:1-11 Isaiah 6:1-5 Matthew 14:23-31 Romans 8:35-39

Questions for discussion:

What do you think was going on inside Peter that led him to deny Jesus three times?
What do you learn about Peter after Jesus ask him to let down his fishing nets for a catch?
What would you expect the effect of encountering Jesus for real in this fallen world and in the midst of our own brokenness to be?
What tendencies do we have spiritually when things are going well?
Why is peace in this world so elusive?
How has our current world crisis affected your peace this week?
What do you learn about Peter and Jesus when Peter began walking on the water?
What does it mean to pay attention to your heart?
How do you center yourself in Jesus?

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Key verses Luke 22:47-53 Acts 17:26-27 John 18:3-8 Luke 22:3 Romans 8:28

Questions for discussion

What does it mean to you that there is a divine timetable to life?
How do you see that divine timetable working out in the life of Jesus, especially during the final week leading up to the cross?
What are the purposes for God’s appointed times and events throughout history?
Contrast the person who responds to an event out of faith with the person who reacts in fear to an event.
Can you share one positive trait and one negative trait that you have experienced during the current global crisis?
How can we turn the uncertainty of our current global crisis into an opportunity for the gospel?
Throughout the Passover meal, and during the appearance of the soldiers and officials in the garden, how can you tell that Jesus was not caught off guard?
In what ways did the betrayal and arrest of Jesus fulfill the purposes of God, not frustrate them? How do they demonstrate to us who He is?

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Questions for discussion

Describe the intense agonizing of Jesus in the garden.
What would you say has filled Jesus with such grief and distress?
What aspect of the character of Jesus that is demonstrated in the garden do you appreciate most?
What does it take for you to put God’s will above your own wishes?
Can you think of a time in life that only you could drink the cup that you were given?
Can you share a time when you had to face your Gethsemane, the place we go when there’s no place to go but God.
Contrast the expression of emotions that Jesus experienced in the garden with unhealthy ways of thinking about and dealing with our emotions.
How should the words, “It is finished”, affect our lives?

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Questions for discussion

How do you relate to the disciples once again messing up by arguing about who is the greatest?
How should the fact that the one who rules, should be like the one who serves, affect our lives?
Why are humility and servanthood vital qualities for a leader?
How would you differentiate between worldly leadership and kingdom leadership?
What was the affect of Jesus on those who knew Him best?
Why are titles or positions so important to us?
What are we proclaiming, what is the significance of partaking in the Lord’s supper?
What is your personal hope for your Lenten experience this year?

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Questions for discussion

Why would anyone listen to Jesus, then choose not to follow?
What is the world’s typical description of the good life?
How would Jesus describe the good life?
What is wrong with thinking that if I follow Jesus, He will make all of my dreams come true?
What does Jesus mean when He talks about being rich toward God?
Why is it easy to think that the good life consists of being blessed while my enemy loses?
What helps you to view “your enemy” in a different light?
Share an experience of how God used pain and suffering in your life to affect kingdom work.

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Questions for discussion

What does it mean when we pledge our allegiance to God in affirming the Apostles’ Creed?
Why is it critical to our faith to understand that Jesus was a real historical figure?
How does it impact you to know that accounts written about Jesus in the New Testament have been written by eyewitnesses?
What do you do when you hear fake news that Jesus never really existed or that you can’t trust the gospels?
Why is it important to understand that Jesus is completely human and completely divine?
How does the humanity of Jesus bring a level of comfort to us?
How is it possible to draw near to the throne of grace when we are struggling with sin?
What practical steps do you take when you are struggling with sin?

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Questions for discussion

Why is the question, “who do you say I am” that Jesus asks, the critical question of our lives?
How does the Bible answer the question, “who are we”?
What does it mean that Jesus has come to reveal to us who God is?
Why should we trust God?
How is God’s power best seen in the cross?
How can we say that when we are weak, then we are strong?
What causes us to believe that we are unloveable?
How should the fact that God takes great delight in us, change us?

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Questions for discussion 1. Why do you think racial reconciliation is so important?

What does it mean to regard others different from how the world regards others?
Share a favorite verse of God’s love for all nations.
What does it mean to be a minister of reconciliation?
In Galatians 3:28 it states that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” What does this mean to you?
Can you share an example of how you were affected by a racial bias when you were growing up?
Can you think of a step that you can take to promote reconciliation?
What are the benefits of moving toward racial reconciliation?

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Questions for discussion

Terry Wardle shared a family belief, that if you’re not good, bad things happen to you. His early church experience seemed to support this. What family and/or church beliefs have shaped your behaviors and/or theology?
What does it mean to die whole?
What Is hindering your wholeness?
What would it take for you to have the courage to ask to be made whole?
What fruit could you bear if you were made whole?
Share a situation in which you encountered Christ and were changed.

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Questions for discussion:

How would you describe ultimate healing?
What does it mean to be a “Jesus plus” Christian?
What are some things that we tend to “add on” to Jesus in our walks?
Describe some things that the world promises, but cannot deliver, cannot satisfy.
Describe the thirst that can be satisfied.
What do we discover when we die to self?
How do we bear fruit?
Do you have a specific way that you can abide in Him this week that you hope will result in bearing fruit?

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Questions

What leads some people to conclude that life is futile?
What situation in life have you been most tempted to ask, “where is God?”
Read Psalm 42. Describe the thirst of the psalmist.
What distracts us from that thirst?
What helps you to be aware of His constant presence?
Share an experience when God’s presence made a difference within you, in the midst of a situation that you were going through.
What does it mean to talk to yourself, instead of listening to yourself?
At this time, do you feel more of a need to initiate or renew practices that aid your thirst for God, or to eliminate things that keep you from thirsting after Him?

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Questions for discussion

What do we tend to do when we are in the middle of the storms of life?
Why do we choose to numb our pain instead of coming to Jesus for healing?
What do you think our busyness is all about?
Why are we uncomfortable with stillness?
Read Psalm 23. Notice the subject and verbs of some of the verses; He makes, He leads, and He guides. What does this mean to you and how does it affect you?
Share some examples of Jesus seeking solitude.
How does God use stillness?
Can you share an experience that you have had in regaining soul refreshment and peace?

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Key verses Luke 2:8-20 John 3:17 Matthew 9:12-13 1 Corinthians 1:26, 28-29

Questions for discussion 1. What was the response of the shepherds when they first saw the angels?

What was the message of the angels to the shepherds?
What is the significance of the three names that the angels ascribed to the baby born in the manger?
Why do you think that the shepherds were chosen to be the witnesses to the birth of the Savior?
What happened with the shepherds after they had seen Jesus?
Share how Jesus changed everything for you, after you met him for the first time?
How does the evil one deceive us, to keep us from sharing the good news?
Describe the hope of the Christmas season for you.

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Key Scriptures: Hebrews 10:19-23 Hebrews 11:23=29 Exodus 14:10-14, 21-22

Questions for discussion: 1. Is there an individual in Hebrews 11 who is especially inspirational to you?

How does faith grow?
How has God built your trust and faith?
Read Hebrews 11:23-29. What impresses you the most about Moses?
What made Moses such a great leader?
What are the primary obstacles to your faith?
What can you do at this time in order for your faith to grow?
What helps you to see that your faith does matter and makes a difference in this world?

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Key Verses Hebrews 11:7 Genesis 6:5-9 Genesis 9:16

Questions 1. Why is it important to study the faith of those who have gone before us? 2. In what way is Noah inspirational to you? 3. Why do we tend to conform to the standards of those around us? 4. What are the ways that you are susceptible to conforming to what others are doing? 5. What do you think motivated Noah to do what is right regardless of what everyone else is doing? 6. What goes through your mind when you consider the fact that after all those years of building and preaching, no one joined Noah on the ark except his family? 7. Why is it easy to assume that God is angry with us when we go through difficult situations? 8. Is there one thing in your life at this time that you would like to take a stand against conforming to what others are doing?

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Application Questions: 1. How can we experience the peace of God in the midst of confusion, anxiety, and suffering?

Why do we lose sight of God’s presence?
What is the power that you feel, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ?
Can you describe a thin place where you have been? How did God use this experience in your life?
Why are grace and discipline critical to our focus as we follow Jesus?
What helps you to have a fresh start in your relationship with Jesus?
Why do we take our eyes off God when things are going well?
Describe the power of the written word as you pursue the presence of God in your life.

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Application Questions: 1. Why is one of the most dangerous things in the world, a wrong belief?

Why are people so vulnerable to the teachings of false prophets?
Why do think that some turn away from the truth to believe myths?
In testing the fruit why are doctrine, lifestyle, and character all critical?
How does God prune us in order to bear more fruit?
Have you ever been deceived about something significant?
What motivates you to get to know Jesus more?
What is your biggest challenge at this time to abiding?

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Application Questions: 1. When you were young, did you have a picture perfect view of what your life would be like? Describe what that that looked like.

Why is the teaching of Jesus to not worry about our life so difficult?
What are one or two worries that are especially troublesome to you?
What is the difference between caring and worrying?
What are the effects of living a life of worry?
What takes you from a place of worry to a place of peace?
What are the lies that worry tells us?
What does Jesus mean by “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?"

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Application Questions: 1. What is the narrow gate, the road less traveled? 2. How would you describe the broad road? 3. What motivates you to give up your life to follow Christ? 4. How does the destination affect your ability to enjoy the journey? 5. What is difficult about the narrow road and appealing about the broad road? 6. Can you share an experience in which you followed Christ when it was difficult and He changed your desire, as a result, to follow and experience Him more fully? 7. How does it affect you to think that Jesus is the narrow gate, the only way to get to heaven? 8. What choices do you need to make at this time to continue on the narrow road?

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Application Questions: 1. What do the final words of Jesus on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” and “It is finished” mean to you? 2. In what way is salvation both an event and a process? 3. Compare and contrast confession as a private grace and a corporate discipline. 4. In what way is sorrow necessary to a good confession? 5. Why is it important that confession begins in sorrow, but ends in joy? 6. How can we prepare ourselves to receive the confession of another? 7. What keeps us from confessing our sins? 8. What are the benefits of the discipline of confession?

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Application Questions: 1. What does it mean to you that the Shepherd's eyes are on you and never leave? 2. Why do people listen to man instead of God? 3. What is the effect of surrendering my will? 4. Why is it important to renew our minds? 5. How do you make big decisions? 6. Can you think of a time that the Holy Spirit prompted you to make a decision?

Questions based on the book: 1. Is the idea of guidance as a corporate discipline new or strange to you? 2. Give examples from the Scriptures of occasions in which God guides groups of people or instructed individuals through the group experience. 3. Why do you think that the Church has tended to emphasize private guidance and not corporate guidance? 4. What are some of the dangers of corporate guidance? 5. How should the idea of guidance influence the ways we carry on business in our church? 6. Have you ever seen the idea of corporate guidance used in destructive ways? What lessons were you able to learn from that experience? 7. If living in guidance comes about mainly through entering into friendship with God, what should you drop from your life and what should you add to your life in order to deepen your intimacy with Christ?

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Application Questions: 1. What is the discipline of solitude? 2. How did Jesus exemplify the discipline of solitude? 3. Why do we need the stillness of solitude, if we want to be with others meaningfully? 4. How can a day filled with noise and voices be as a day of silence for us? 5. What does the dark night of the soul involve? 6. What is the purpose of the dark night of the soul? 7. Why do we need both solitude and community in order to function with spiritual success? 8. What keeps you from solitude?

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Application Questions: 1. What is the discipline of simplicity? 2. Contrast simplicity and duplicity. 3. Why does simplicity bring freedom? 4. Of the three inward attitudes of simplicity; to receive what we have as a gift from God, to know that it is God’s business and not ours to care for what we have, and to have our goods available to others, which do you find the most difficult for you personally? 5. Why do we have an insane attachment to things? 6. Why is it easy to ignore the many words of Jesus on simplicity? 7. What helps you to de-accumulate? 8. Why is it difficult for you to live in simplicity?

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Application Questions:

What does meditation mean to you?
What are some of your first reactions to the idea of meditation?
Do you have any examples or verses in the word that encourage you to meditate?
What do you think the purpose of meditation is?
What are some misconceptions that some have about meditation?
In preparing to meditate, have you found a particular posture to be helpful?
What things make your life crowded?
What would help you to make meditation a way of life?

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Application Questions:

How does the discipline of study help us to replace old destructive habits of thought with new life-giving habits.
What is the difference between the study of Scripture and the devotional reading of Scripture?
What helps you to benefit from your time of studying the word of God?
Do you have an approach to the study of the word that you would recommend?
Why does study aid the transformation of the individual?
Outside of the Bible, which book has had the most profound impact upon your life?
Why does the discipline of study produce joy?

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download additional sermon resources/documents at http://heritagecc.org/sermon-resources

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This sermon was recorded at our 5:30pm service on Saturday, January 19th.

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Application Questions: 1. Where or to whom do you think God is calling you to sow the seed of the Kingdom of God? How can this community support you as you sow the seed of the Kingdom?

What type of soil are you currently? What are some ways that we can cultivate good soil in our own lives and in the lives of each other as a community?
What is God saying to you and what are you going to do about it? What is God saying to us as a community and what are we going to do about it?

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Application Questions:

This is the voice of Satan that you and I hear it every day, don’t we? Does God REALLY love you?

Can you REALLY trust him with the things that matter? Consider Romans 8.37–39.

The weird thing is that the gifts and blessing and provision of God easily and quickly and quietly take the place of God in our hearts. What idols do you carry?
Do you feel safe in God’s steadfast love and secure in his faithfulness? If not, consider what is stopping you.

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Application Questions:

Consider the statement, "You MUST have a Jesus-shaped impact on the world around you, if you claim to follow Jesus."
So what does it mean to be salt, to be light? How does this play out in your life?
This is God’s heart toward us: he loves us, & he is faithful to us. Is this your experience?
Are there hard places you want to discuss in the company of friends, in those who will help you see the understanding and unchanging love of Jesus?

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Application Questions: 1. What is the heart?

What is the problem of the heart?
How would you say that your heart gets distracted, compromised?
How do we guard our hearts?
What are the benefits of being pure in heart?

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Application Questions: 1. How do you understand biblical righteousness?

How can we (as individuals, families, & life groups) remove evil from the world? Read Colossians 3.5-9 & 12-17
Are there ways where you or your life group can engage by bringing healing to the broken world? Read Matthew 25.31-40

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Application Questions:

What is the most valuable thing you’ve ever lost?
Think about the greatest party you’ve ever been to, why was it thrown?
Which character in the Parable of the Lost Son do you feel most characterizes you?
Why do you think the father showed such extreme grace to his sons, have you ever experienced grace like this?

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Application Questions:

Matthew 1:19 states, "And her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly." What does this tell you about Joseph?
What do you learn about Joseph from the two dreams that he had in which an angel first tells him to go to Egypt, then later tells him to return to Israel?
When they were returning to Israel, Joseph was once again warned in a dream about Herod's son, so he withdrew from Galilee and went to Nazareth. What does this tell us about Joseph?
What impresses you most about Joseph's life?
What do you believe are the best things that a father can pass on to his children?

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Application Questions:

In 1 Timothy 1:8 Paul writes that "...the Law is good if one uses it properly." How is it used improperly?
How did the religious and political elites corrupt the Law?
What is the proper use of the Law and the Word of God?
What do we learn from the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37?
How is the fact that the Law of Moses is a gift of grace, not a burden, a perspective changer, a life changer?

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Application Questions:

Are there any broken images of God that you carry with you? Does what you know of Jesus help heal those images?
Have you cultivated your relationship with Jesus as you would any other relationship?
Consider God’s Mercy. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Asking for mercy says something like this - I have totally wronged you. I have done everything in my power to destroy you and all you stand for. I have rejected you, mocked you, scorned you, ignored you. And now that I face the consequences of my actions, I’m asking you to forget all of that, and simply be good to me. This is our God - Jesus, who gave his life for us, that we might live. This is our God - our Creator, yes; our Judge, yes; but most crucially, our Lover, our Savior, our Redeemer.
Are there areas in your journey that need healing? Are there steps through Heritage or in your community that you should consider to take to begin the healing journey?

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Application Questions:

What do you learn about the teachers of the law and the Pharisees in the story of the women in adultery?
What helps you to not judge others?
What are the consequences of hidden shame?
How can we be free of guilt and shame?
What amazes you about Jesus’ words and actions with the woman in adultery and the teachers and Pharisees?

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Application Questions:

What should we say if someone asks if we are religious?
Why do you think that Jesus asked the man at the pool if he wanted to be healed?
How do you define legalism?
What is the problem with legalism?
How would you describe the danger of self-preservation?

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Application Questions:

What does "embrace the burdens that you carry" mean to you?
What should we do when our situation worsens after our prayers?
What is the difference between looking at God through my circumstances, rather than looking at my circumstances through God?
What helps you when you feel that your circumstances are out of control?
How can we become like Habakkuk that we are able to rejoice in the Lord, even though "the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines"?

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Application Questions:

Put the interaction between Philip and Nathanael in your own words. What do you love about Philip's response to Nathanael?
Read the first five verses of John 1. What is meaningful to you about this passage?
There is a residue of the creative power of the Word of God in our own words, in our own speech. How do we use this power to build? To destroy?
Why is it so difficult for the world to recognize and receive the true light that gives light to everyone?
As a witness, how do we help the world to recognize and receive this Word of God?

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Application Questions: 1. What does it look like to follow Jesus?

What is the most challenging aspect of following Jesus for you?
How do we become comfortable with hearing Jesus' voice?
Why do you think that the two disciples walking with Jesus after the resurrection were unable to recognize Him?
What helps you to see Jesus in the middle of what you're facing? What prevents you from seeing Jesus in the middle of what you're facing?

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Application Questions: 1. We can encounter God in worship, in community, and on mission. How do you best encounter Him in your life?

Why is surrender the highest act of worship?
Why is recognizing my own brokenness critical?
What does being in community mean to you?
How can we build bridges that will enable us to give away our faith?

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Application Questions: 1. What are some of the prophesies that Jesus fulfilled while on the cross and why are they important to us?

Why does God allow us to be in dark in the valley of the shadow of death?
What does "Sunday is Coming" mean to you?
How does the empty tomb change everything for us?
How has this Lenten journey affected you?

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Application Questions: 1. Read Ezekiel 36:25-27. What are the most significant ways that you can see that God has given you a new spirit and a new heart?

One of the effects of having a new spirit and a new heart is to be witnesses. What does it look like to be witnesses to Jesus?
What are the benefits of being comfortable with being a cracked pot?
What does being a witness flow from, for you? Where does it start?
Practically, how can you start, how can this community life group start, being more on mission for Jesus?

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Application Questions: 1. How do you get caught up in the “busyness” of Christian activity and miss the simplicity of following Jesus?

What comes to your mind when you hear that Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save it?
In what ways do you relate to the church constructing a world of “us and them?"
What helps you to keep on track with God’s mission?
What are the things that get in the way of doing everything you can to bring about reconciliation in Jesus?

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Application Questions:

Why do you think that the words "one another" are used so many times in the Bible?
What does true love mean to you?
What is the most meaningful aspect of God's love for you?
How can this community life group that we are a part of, begin to show more of God's love to one another?
What is the "messy" side of love, and why is it worth the risk?

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Application Questions: 1 Why do you think that healing is such a critical part of our journey?

2 How do you experience the renewing of your mind?

3 Since there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, why do we live at times with shame and guilt?

4 Can you think of a time when you replaced a lie about yourself with the truth?

5 What is the best test for you that your mind has been renewed?

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Application Questions: 1. How do we go from "deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus" to MEtianity? "Embrace yourself, live for yourself. Avoid anything that's difficult or uncomfortable, and follow your heart, and do whatever is best for you."

What does the G.K. Chesterton quote mean to you? "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."
Why is giving up our rights to control our lives so challenging?
What do you think is hardest to surrender; possessions, money, family, sexuality, or time?
What is the difference to you in surrendering out of duty, or out of a relationship?

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Application Questions: 1. What are the obstacles for you to be able to give God your full attention?

Why do we need to wait on God?
What is the importance of fasting?
What does it mean to you to give Jesus your heart?
What are the indicators to you personally that a particular experience or encounter is of God?

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Application Questions: 1. What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?

Where can wisdom be found?
What does the fear of the Lord give to knowledge and wisdom?
What makes the fear of the Lord different from all other fears?

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Application Questions: 1. What does the Bible say about failure?

How did Jesus deal with Peter and his failure?
Have we forgiven ourselves for our failures? Do we, like Peter, have roosters that still echo today and need to be silenced ?
How do we overcome our fear of failure?

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Application Questions:

1) How do you make sense of the statement, "In order to conquer the fear of intimacy, you have to move toward intimacy"?

2) What stands in your way of being authentic and fully known?

3) What is your substitute for true intimacy?

4) Read John 15. What are the implications of "remaining in Jesus?"

5) If it's true that you're connected to the Vine (Jesus), then you are the recipient of His love and able to extend that love to others. How will you live it out this week?

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Application Questions 1. Is worry a sin? Why don’t we see it as such? Why is anxiety such a problem in the US?

Is there anything good that worry gives me?
What is the relationship between faith and fear?
How are worry and generosity connected?
What is the best way to change the focus of my heart?

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Application Questions: 1. Read Psalm 42:1-2. What is it that causes a deer (or any animal) to pant? Are you panting after God, the living God? Why or why not?

2. Read Psalm 42:3-4. In verse 3 the psalmist begins to describe his downcast state of mind and the mocking that he is enduring. How does he respond to this in verse 4? Why would this be important in order to gain hope?

3. Read Psalm 42:8-10. In verse 8 the psalmist speaks of the love and the presence of the Lord in his life. How does this contrast with verses 9 & 10? Verses 9 & 10 are an example of what is commonly found in the psalms known as a lament. Why do you think laments are included in God’s Word? How might lamenting actually produce hope?

4. Read Psalm 42:5, 11 & Psalm 43:5. Psalms 42 & 43 were probably originally one psalm. Why do you think these refrains are repeated? Where does the psalmist say to his soul he must place his hope? How does the idea of placing our hope in a person differ from the world’s concept of hope? Take some time right now to ask God to give you a fresh vision of the hope found in Him.

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Application Questions: 1. Have you ever experienced being the outsider?

We must ask. Is this us? Is this me? Has coldness replaced compassion? Does the love of God burn in me like Jesus that I move in mercy toward the broken, the lost?
Is mercy moving you, driving your heart in the world around you?
Are you setting aside space and time to care for your soul to be filled and growing in love with God?
What ways might that love move you then on mission with Him?

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Application Questions:

What is significant about calling the divine “Everlasting Father”?
If Jesus has ascended to heaven how is it that He can still be a Father to me?
What does “ABBA” mean and what are its implications for my relationship with God?
How do I measure my understanding of the Christian faith?
If God is my Father, what does that make me?

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Application Questions: 1. What is the impact of a leader on their followers? 2. What qualities do you look for in a leader you would choose to follow? 3. How does Isaiah describe the qualities of the child who would be born? 4. Did Jesus fulfill those qualities? 5. How have you experienced Him as a Wonderful Counselor ?

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Application Questions: 1. What does Gratitude look like?

Read Luke 17:11-19, what strikes you about how Jesus responds to these lepers? How is this different from other times He heals people?
One leper stopped when he was healed and returned to Jesus, what’s one thing in your life you’ve felt the need to immediately stop and thank God?
Nine lepers left Jesus and obediently went to the priest, have you ever felt obedience gets in the way of gratitude?
Who is the last person you thanked for doing something meaningful in your life? Who is someone you have failed to thank?

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Application Questions: 1. Have you experienced a deep longing within you? A powerful thirst that nothing else and nobody else in this universe can truly satisfy? What is/was that experience like?

Have you ever considered doing what the old song suggests and counting your “many blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done.” Perhaps you’d consider taking some time personally to write down or as a group list out where you see God’s goodness toward you & where you experience blessing?
Pavi mentioned the “for now” and the “forever” blessings. We can often rattle through the “for now” blessings, but what “forever” blessings come to mind for you?
Have you ever considered yourself as God’s beloved? What does that mean for you?
What does it mean to bear fruit in every good work and experience this blessed life of faith, hope and love? What does that look like practically in Westerville, Ohio in 2017?
How do you experience the blessed life and what are you doing to bring heaven to earth?

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Application Questions: 1. Do you make time for Him?

Do you take Him seriously? Are there areas you need to bring to Him?
Are you walking with Him through all your days? What does that really mean?
How do you experience God’s presence through your week?

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Application Questions: 1. What celebrity do you think you look like?

How can you use the framework of Honesty, Humility, Courage and Extraordinary Effort in your group?
Considering the "slave-masters" spoke about, which one would you like to say 'goodbye' to?
In which area you have been successful?
Where would you like to get plugged in at Heritage? Men's, Women's, Marriage and Family, Community Life?
As a group, what steps could you take to move deeper into an authentic community?

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Application Questions: 1. How does passage in Luke 10 vs 25-27 help us define spirituality?

Who is my neighbor and what does loving them look like?
Discuss the vulnerability of dependence.
Discuss the circles and where there may be gaps.

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Application Questions: 1. Why is it so hard to forgive?

What are some misconceptions about forgiveness?
What does it mean to forgive others in the same way that we’ve been forgiven?
How can resentment and bitterness affect us?
What are some of the indicators that true forgiveness has taken place?

Sermon downloads available at http://heritagecc.org/sermon-resources

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Application Questions: 1. How does believing truth help me in my battle with sin?

What is the enemy's weapon against me? How do I overcome?
What is a stronghold? Give examples.
What is a basic structure for experiencing truth?

Download Lie Identification List at http://heritagecc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/lie-identification-list.pdf

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Application Questions: 1. What were you taught about emotions growing up?

What hinders us from expressing our emotions freely?
What is the connection between emotional wellbeing and spiritual wellbeing?
What are unhealthy emotional responses?
What does emotional health look like?

Download the lamenting document entitled "Writing a Lament" here. http://heritagecc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Writing-a-Lament.pdf

Download the Feeling Wheel here. http://heritagecc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Feeling-Wheel.pdf

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For full version of sermon, please listen to the audio. Technical difficulties lead to the video cutting out early. Thank you and we apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you.

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Bottom Line: What we believe about God determines what we believe about ourselves.

Main points: Jesus created everything and then broke through time and space to come and communicate the heart of the Father, the kingdom of heaven, grace and truth. John 1:1-14 We should know everything that Jesus said. Jesus shouts the heart of the Father in Luke 15:31 "My child, you are always with me and everything I have is yours" The heart of God is good and loving toward everyone, even if you have done some things wrong. “Daddy called me home for dinner.” Is the good news.

Application Questions: 1. If you could go back in time what would you tell your younger self? Why?

Why should we know everything that Jesus told us? Do you believe that Jesus is God in a body?
What would change if we lived in an identity of a Prince/Princess of the Kingdom of Heaven? What difference would it make?
What would it look like for someone to fully Trust God?
In the scripture passage (Luke 15) Jesus is "shouting" the heart of the Father to us. What is the core message that he is saying?
What would it mean to you that "Daddy called you home for dinner?"
What steps can you take to live more fully and free as a child of God?
In the story in Luke 15, there are two children of the Father, do you identify with either. Why?
How would you describe your relationship with our Heavenly Father?

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Application Questions: 1) What about your life makes it difficult for me to find the time and space to love my neighbor?

2) What is your reaction to the quote from Dallas Willard, "We need a picture of our life in God that does not leave most of our life untouched?"

3) What would it feel like to think in shalom?

4) Is your schedule enabling or preventing you from serving your neighbor?

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Application Questions: 1. What obstacles do you need to remove to be relevant to the people in your world?

Are you willing to build bridges to those who have no witness? Sign up.
Are you facing some big decisions and trying to figure out God’s will? Surrender fully Renew your mind Take a step
Write the names of 3 people you will turn the light on for in the next three weeks and then start praying for them and opportunities to share.

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Application Questions: 1. Growing up, what kind of examples did you see, both positive and negative, of what Christianity was all about? Was there anyone you admired who was a Christian?

How can we take advantage of holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, to help kids learn about the Christian faith?
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. What would be a good application of that passage in today’s world?
What are some reasons why kids who are raised in Christian homes depart from the faith as they get older?
Why should we all feel responsible to impact young people for Christ, even if we aren’t parents?

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Application Questions: 1. The pattern of discontentment, doubt the God really loves you, and then deciding that trusting God and waiting for him isn't working. Does this ring true of your life right now?

Do you believe this statement is true? You will never find genuine peace and joy and fulfillment in life until you are able to give yourself freely in unselfish self-giving love. If so, how does this affect you and your life?
Are there patterns in your life you need to put away? Read Colossians 3.5-9.
Read Ephesians 4.1-2 & Colossians 3.12-14. Is this the way you treat others? Those closest to you?
Have you decided to make these commitments of Jesus this weekend? How has it gone for you so far?

1 Turn Away from all those other things that distract you from a simple trust in Jesus... set aside all those other things that you’re looking to to quench the thirst of your soul...

2 Turn Toward Jesus and ask Him daily to fill you up to overflowing with living water... with the Holy Spirit.

3 Turn Outwards by asking Jesus to open your eyes to the thirst of the world around you... and ask Him to give you wisdom and courage and boldness to be that fifth witness for Him in the world around you.

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Application Questions: 1. Where has God been at work in your world to get your attention and move in your life?

Will you accept how important you are in this great mission and sign up?
Will you repent of your cultural bias and the fear that drives it?

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Application Questions: 1. The story of Anianas and Sapphira is shocking. In what areas do you compare yourself with others and act out of that. May you look at everyone and yourself in the light of God's love for them.

With hypocrisy in our life as a guide, where do you need to accept that you are deeply loved?
Read through Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Hosea 11:1-4, Romans 8:31-39 everyday for 30 days. See how deeply loved you are.

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. How did or didn’t you experience a mother’s love?

Were there glimpses of God’s heart in her relationship with you? What seems the most impactful?
What do you think about scripture that refers to God’s love being like a mothers?
Are there challenges to believing that God has such fond, affectionate, never-ending love for you, for everyone?
What legacy of faith are you building? Do you have a “second chance” story you’d be willing to share?

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. Have you experienced a Church experience like Acts 2:42-47? Why or why not?

What holds you back from truly experiencing Church like Acts 2:42-47?
What is the most compelling aspect of the church in this passage?
What do people outside of the church think about Heritage?
Peter said he had no silver or gold but what he did have he would give to the beggar - to rise and walk? Why do you think it’s easier for us to give gold and silver but harder to use power to make someone walk?
How are you engaged in community? Worship? and Mission?
What are some ways you live on mission at home? At work? At school?
What are some ways you could leverage home, work, school for the Gospel?

Download "Simple Ways to Be Missional: ebook from Verge Network here. http://heritagecc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SimpleWaysToBeMissional-Verge.pdf

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Application Questions: 1. In what ways have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?

Why is this topic so “controversial” for some?
Do you know your spiritual gifts? What spiritual gifts do you have?
For what tasks or situations do you especially need the supernatural power of God?
To what people group, sub-culture, tongue, field are you called to? A place where you feel the supernatural anointing (holy ease) to communicate well because of your gift mix, credibility, access, passion?

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Questions: 1. Has this impacted your view of missions? If so, how? 2. Are your actions towards others loving (1 Corinthians 13) them to Jesus as part of the Great Commission? 3. Who are you praying for? Where is God speaking to your heart to step out and impact others?

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. Jesus didn't defeat evil in the way most people expected, he did it by sacrificing himself, turning the other cheek, and loving all as he died. He did not combat evil with evil. Are there any situations where you need to take a closer look how you are responding to evil? Would you like to share?

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a great Russian novelist and historian. He was an outspoken opponent of Communism and the Soviet Union, and suffered much for it... read how he framed the problem.

“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

How does this perspective make you feel? Do you think it is an accurate? If so, does it change how you should respond to others?

In Jesus' death he destroyed evil, sin, and death. so that we can experience freedom from fear from death, to be free of slavery of sin. Do you live trusting, following and reflecting this throughout the stresses of life, work and relationships?

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. In what relationship do you need to offer forgiveness & self-sacrificial love? What steps can you begin to take?

Where do you need to seek forgiveness? You are fully forgiven because of the self-sacrificial love of Jesus you can in safety discover who you need to seek forgiveness.
Tell about a time when someone offered a blessing to you when you cursed them. What changed in you?

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. How did your family regard possessions while you were growing up?

How did the rich man view his possessions and good fortune? (12:19)
What signs of greed can show up in a person’s life?
On what basis would you like your life to be judged?
With what parts of the parable can you identify?
How is it possible to be rich toward God?
What is one step you can take this week to become less dependent on your possessions?

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http://heritagecc.org/fifth-witness Application/Discussion Questions: 1. Do you know anyone around you that seems to be on a journey toward trusting Jesus? What do you think you could do to support them along the way?

What needs in the world around you - family, friends, neighborhood, community - are on your heart these days?
Where do you see the compassionate heart of God at work in the world around you?
Is there one specific need out there that you sense God inviting you to engage with?
Have you experienced the joy of being that Fifth Witness to Jesus to the world around you? Tell us about it!

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. Where in your own journey do you find yourself relating to the younger son?

How about the older son? Where in your own life do you identify with him?
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve been the Father, caring for both sons as they needed it? What was the cost to you, personally?
Is there anyone that you would honestly find somewhat difficult to welcome into community with yourself - arms open wide?
Are there any changes you would like to make, considering this story?

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Application/Discussion Questions: 1. What decision(s) you’ve made has changed your life the most?

How has following Jesus changed your life?
What kind of fruit does a follower of Christ produce?
When you think of the storms in your life, what have they showed you about your faith?
In what ways do you live out your faith Mon-Fri?

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To watch video of this message, view it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/6Wgpx2S4wz4

To read or take sermon notes on "Holiness," visit https://notes.subsplash.com/fill-in/view?doc=ovgHP1R0E7

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To read or take sermon notes on "Sin," visit https://notes.subsplash.com/fill-in/view?doc=3nas9Z1k1g

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Main Idea :: Remember what Jesus has done for all of us and do not be afraid.

This time of year we make new resolutions, new plans for all the things we want to accomplish, but sometimes those plans don't go as we expect.

While making plans is a good thing to do, trust Jesus to lead us as we make those plans, to lead us through obstacles and through tough times, and to lead us down the path He has chosen, even if it does not align with ours. Jesus will meet us on any given day, when we are prepared, when we are not, when we are exhausted, even when we feel our hearts and bodies can give no more, He meets us no matter where we are and leads us, if we are willing to follow.

Application Questions :: 1. Look back over 2016, how had your plans made in December 2015 work out for you? Discuss with the groups plans that did work out and plans that did not. 2. What unexpected, yet good things, happened in 2016? 3. Do you feel that you allowed Jesus to lead you through 2016? 4. Could you have trusted Him more? 5. What areas of your life will you entrust more to Jesus in 2017? 6. What are some ways in which you could share your trust in Jesus with others in 2017?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Christmas gives us three gifts: the Love of the Father, the Joy of the Son, and the Peace of the Holy Spirit. Don't miss out on them by looking for them in the wrong place.

Sermon Notes: Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11 We have this concept of Insiders and Outsiders, we versus they, us versus them. The Nation of Israel saw themselves as Insiders with God because they were His chosen people, but they were chosen to serve, not to be superior. God reveals the birth of His Son to Outsiders first. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh point to the fact that the wise men were Arab, as that is the only place those spices can be found. Those Outsiders left everything they had to go and worship Him. Insiders and Outsiders don't matter - the only thing that does matter is our response to Jesus. Everyone has a relationship with Him - either walking toward Him or walking away.

Matthew 2: 1-16 Herod was king of Israel - his purpose was to lead Israel to its purpose (which was waiting for and following the Messiah). Herod should have been the ultimate Insider, but he was focused on power and wealth for himself. Jesus was a threat to him. Jesus' coming is a threat to you, too... The Longing of the Soul: 1. To be Loved 2. To have Joy 3. To be at Peace As we grow up, we start to figure out things we can do to "meet," these Longings, but they often lead to sinful, not God-honoring habits/behaviors. When Jesus shows up and tells you these are the wrong habits, He threatens the self and the life you've created. Feeling threatened can make you crazy - Herod killed his own wife and two sons when he felt threatened. Herod's Responses to Jesus: 1. Fear 2. Deception 3. Murder ...and we are really not that different.

The Love of God condemns our sin and forgives our person at the same time. Jesus comes to invite us to the simplicity of authenticity. But it's not easy or instant - old habits die hard. So, how do we tackle these habits? 1. The Bible - being immersed in the Word makes Jesus real, vivid, trustworthy. 2. Trusted friends 3. Holy Spirit Christmas is the freedom to break these habits.

The Love of God John 15:9-13 invites you to make yourself at home in His love and to love one another. When we disobey, He doesn't stop loving us, we just walk away from His love instead of making our selves at home in it. John 16:33

Christmas Gifts: 1. the Love of the Father 2. the Joy of the Son 3. the Peace of the Holy Spirit

Don't miss the gift of Jesus.

Application Questions: 1. What are you celebrating this Christmas season?

Where are you looking to fulfill the Longings of your Soul?
Of the three ways to tackle our patterns - the Bible, friends, and the Holy Spirit - which do you need to give more attention in 2017?
How do you experience the Love of the Father, the Joy of the Son, or the Peace of the Holy Spirit?

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Main Idea: Be overflowing with thankfulness, have open-handed generosity toward all and heartfelt worship toward God.

Key Verses: Colossians 2:6-7; Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 7-10; Matthew 6:2-4; Luke 6:32-35; Romans 8:31-32; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Matthew 26:26-28

Sermon Notes: When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and endeavor to live by His rules and His teachings, your trust in Him grows and you “overflow with thankfulness.” In the ancient world of Greece and Rome, this “overflowing thankfulness” that Jesus is talking about was not the same idea as most people understood it – they may not have even comprehended this type of thankfulness until Jesus taught them.

Gifts were given and received, but with an expectation of reciprocity, and indebtedness to the giver. It was not out of love or caring, but out of selfishness - you gave a gift to have someone else be indebted to you. We still see this today when we hear of politicians making deals, they become indebted to one another and therefore make decisions not on what is best for those they are serving, but for themselves.

The God of Israel taught instead to be generous, to give without any expectations, to anyone and everyone, even those who by all current cultural standards did not ‘deserve’ a gift. He also taught us to have heartfelt worship towards Him, who gave us our very existence. This was in complete contrast to the way other gods were worshiped, people worshiped them and expected favors for their worship. With the God of Israel, He only want our true selfless love.

In the Law of Moses, debts were even cancelled every 7 years, even the debts just incurred, regardless of reason, without exception, this is God’s commandment.

Jesus takes generosity even further by teaching that your motives also matter – the motives that lie in your heart. You may give generously, but how do you give – from a stage, where everyone sees, and gives you recognition for your giving or from behind the curtain, where no one can see you, just as God gives to us yet we cannot see it.

The type of thankfulness and generosity that Jesus wants is the type that can only come from a deep trust in God and deep love for God.

Four words lie at the heart of genuine worship: take, bless, break, and give. Jesus gave himself to His Father, God took Him, blessed Him, broke Him on the cross, and gave Him to all of us. We are invited to do the same, give ourselves to Jesus, He will take us whenever, however we are, as we are, all our imperfections and sins, He blesses us, gives us God’s grace and mercy, then he breaks us of sin, breaks us free of selfishness, fear, anxiety, bondage to darkness, and the finally He gives us away to meet the needs of those in this world who also need us and the light of Jesus.

Application Questions: 1. As you look back on your life, what grace has God given to you?

Was this material possessions, money to get the car fixed, or make the mortgage payment, or spiritual grace, a forgiving heart for someone who had wronged you, or healing your heart from the loss of a loved one?
How are you and your family planning to spread this message to others?
Discuss some ideas with your study group about how you could share this message in your neighborhood. 4.a. At your office or place of employment. 4.b. At your school, with your friends.
Unfortunately, at this time of year, we sometimes see people fighting over sale items in the stores, or parking spaces at the mall. How would you react if someone wanted to 'fight' you for the last toy, sweater, or whatever? Could you share this message of thankfulness and generosity with them and let them have the 'whatever' and if they were rude to you still, could you pray for them?
What are some other ways we as individual Christians can model Christ's behavior and love toward others?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: The world will know that we are Jesus' disciples by loving one another the way Jesus loves us.

Sermon Notes: - Through the process of life we are completely dependent while trying to find ways to be independent

Was it ever part of God's plan to live our lives privately and independent of each other?
Community life is central to the teachings of Jesus. He also lived in community. He says that the mark of a true disciple is interdependent loving of each other.
See 1 John 3:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 Peter 1:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Galatians 6:2, 2 Peter 1:7. Jesus' command to love is repeated or referenced here. It shows that the first disciples considered this the special law of Christ.
The command to love was not new. What was new was to love as Jesus did.
How do I love the world if I am unable to love my brother or sister in Christ?
Healthy love is not one way. Love is given and love is received.
Love means many things. Here it is AGAPE, seeking the highest good for another.
Cannot separate the love for God and love for each other.It's not possible to do one without the other. 1 John 4:16, 19-21.
A key part to Jesus' love was forgiveness. If there is any bitterness toward a brother or sister then it is not possible to obey Jesus in this.
John 15:13 - "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." 1 John 3:16 - "we ought also lay down our lives for the brethren."
There are more verses in scripture about each other than reaching the lost. If we cannot love each other then we will not be able to make disciples.
Jews were distinguished by their rites, rituals, and dress. The wealthy by their possessions. The military by their uniforms. Disciples are distinguished by their love for each other.
If we get it right in the church, it shows the reality of the Gospel and people will enter the Kingdom.

Application Questions: 1. What are some examples of how Jesus expressed his love for his disciples?

How does loving one another well communicate the Gospel to the rest of the world?
In what ways have you experienced the love of Jesus? How have you experienced love from brothers and sisters in Christ?
Why is it important to forgive one another? How can unforgiveness keep us from loving each other the way Jesus loves us?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: To bring the Kingdom of God down, we have to LOVE our King with our whole heart.

The Kingdom of God can be here when we submit ourselves to the Lord by loving Him with heart, soul, and mind. So, how do we love Him? A grateful heart inspires overflowing love. To be a servant or a warrior for the kingdom, we must first LOVE Him. Mark 12:30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Your WHOLE BEING.

In Luke 10, we meet Mary and Martha - two sisters. Mary chooses to sit at the Lord's feet, a posture of one who is a disciple. God's Kingdom is looking for people like Mary, people who are lovers, who are consistently being filled by the Lord.

In John 11, Lazarus (Mary and Martha's brother) dies. When Jesus comes, He calls him out of his tomb. Key things to notice about this resurrection: 1. "Lazarus, come out!" He had to COME OUT. He didn't just come back to life in the tomb and stay there. Application: We must move out into the world after the Lord brings us out of spiritual death (i.e. after we are "saved.") 2. He came out in his grave clothes, unable to move or see. Jesus sent helpers to remove these hindrances. Application: Jesus puts people in our life to help us put on our new self so that we can be free after our salvation. --- Ephesians 2:4, Romans 13:14

In John 12, Mary is back at Jesus' feet, this time washing his feet with expensive perfume and her own hair. She ONLY had eyes for Jesus - was not paying any attention to those criticizing her behavior. Love makes you do crazy things. The perfume was worth one year's wages. Challenge: Would any of us give up a year's wages in one act of devotion to our King? Mary's faith was not a private, quiet one. To love him with your whole being, you can't check your emotions at the door. They have to come out. The whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. We need the sweet aroma of the Lord's presence to fill our homes and our churches. Mary is an example of the kind of love God expects and deserves, and this kind of love is required to spread the gospel. --- Mark 14:9

Application Questions :

When is the last time you sat at Jesus' feet? If it wasn't today, why not?
Are you still wearing some of your grave clothes? Which ones, and how can you replace them with Jesus' righteousness?
Are you truly grateful Jesus brought you from life to death? How will you show it this week?
Do you love God more than anything else? What step will you take this week to show Him?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: God's method to advance his kingdom is using Mobile Ministry Teams for healing.

Sermon Notes: The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 leads us to 1. Exalt him, 2. Advance his kingdom, and 3. Do his will.

Matthew 9:27, Jesus heals two blind men who called out to him, "Son of David." Matthew 9:32-34 Jesus heals demon possessed man, and many sick because of his compassion for the "harassed and helpless...sheep without a shepherd."

Kingdom refers to God ruling over us, us submitting to his will. Kingdom was their present reality. The king was here, and it was not Caesar. This was counter cultural!

However, we and they still live in a broken world. Yet the power, the majesty, the perfection of heaven was already revealed in the person and mission of Jesus Christ.

The example of Jesus in Matthew 9 was he Went, he Saw, and he Felt.

Matthew 10:1, 7-8 Jesus sends people out to proclaim and demonstrate his compassion.

Philippians 3:18-21 Paul states that Jesus will transform us, and Christ followers are citizens of heaven.

We will have total healing when Jesus appears! But meanwhile; 1. Jesus levels the hurting and understands the pain 2. There's going to be some better days ahead 3. Every Christ follower will ultimately be healed.

When we pray for others, we may consider these guidelines: 1. Ask clarifying questions. 2. Show that you care. 3. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you. 4. Check in to see how they are doing. 5. Reassure them of Gods love.

Application Questions: 1. How can/do we proclaim and demonstrate the compassion of Christ? 2. How can compassion move us to human need? 3. What are ways Jesus transforms us? See Galatians 5:22

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Main Idea: The Gospel creates peace, it removes barriers that divide us from God and from one another. Jesus was our 'Good Samaritan' and now we are to remove barriers also. Whether you realize it or not, everything you do impacts another, you have influence, and are to use it wisely, not wasting it on unimportant disagreements, but instead make meaningful connections to other and address the important topics such as eternal life. Pursue justice with passion especially when you find you feel passionately about a topic or a person.

Sermon Notes: How often do you find yourself ignoring the needs of others? Are you too busy or fearful to notice the needs of others?

We are commanded to "Love God - Deut 6:5 and Love others - Lev 19:18" but do we? Who qualifies as "other" or as our "neighbor"?

We often exclude some for various reasons and feel justified in doing so because some break the law, commit sin, or hurt us, but is it justified?

Our tendency is to play it safe and not reach out to others. It might be difficult, we might have to learn a new language, or change our viewpoint, we might get hurt emotionally or physically.

Reaching out is not easy, it takes trust in God, in Jesus. The Gospel creates peace and allows for the removal of barriers that divide us.

Instead of arguing about things of this world, politics or sports team, share the gospel with someone.

Instead of being angry, pray, pray for individuals, pray for groups, especially those you are angry with or afraid of - God is calling you, calling all of us to do this.

Application Questions: 1. What 'roads' do you avoid when traveling through life? 2. How can you be prepared to help others along the way? 3. Is there someone you have been afraid to reach out to in your community? What is the risk in reaching out to that person? 4. What kinds of injustice have you witnessed? Did you do something to intervene?

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Forgiveness is an important topic because each one of us needs the forgiveness of God.

Read the manuscript linked from the "Message" button above.

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: We are misfits for Jesus stumbling into the kingdom of God.

Sermon Notes: Listed here are the complexities for understanding the Kingdom. 1. The kingdom is here and not yet here. 2. There is tension in seeking to live in the kingdom of God while we are in the kingdom of this world. 3. Our own brokenness with worship on one hand and then split second struggling with attitudes.

Our mission is to dream what our lives will be like with Jesus as king and start living it out. Jesus makes this concrete. Matthew 5:38-45. This king sends us out, taking forgiveness wherever we go. Matthew 6:9-13. This is our prayer in the time between times. This is how we mobilize.

Three Questions for Kingdom Life 1. What is the kingdom of God like? Matthew 3:1-6 through baptism we follow Jesus, follow in the kingdom. Jesus too is baptized, following the kingdom. Matthew 3:16-17 , the mark of the kingdom of God shown in the baptism of Jesus, the Father's affirmation; the Word, Love, and Spirit.

What is the kingdom of the world like? Rather than stumbling toward Jesus we stumble away. Matthew 4:1-4 Jesus tempted by Satan, "take care of yourself" Matthew 4:5-7 "go easy on yourself" Matthew 4:8-10 "respect me and I will give you all things." Kingdom of this world teaches to compromise, the kingdom of God calls for integrity and service.
How do I get in on the kingdom of God? Step in! But not everyone wants to. Those that do know they are broken, at the end of the rope. Luke 7:36-47 the hard fought self righteousness! Through brokenness we find worship, forgiveness, and gentleness from Jesus.

Application Questions: 1. What partnership do we sometimes strike up with the world? 2. Which one are you? The Pharisee or the woman in Luke 7? 3. To enter the kingdom of God Pavi states "What we need is humility." Discuss this in your life. (What is your story?) 4. Share your thoughts on "John " and "Jane." How have you seen the gentleness of Jesus in your life?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Sin leads to death, BUT if we are in Jesus death is cause for CELEBRATION. In dying we are set free from our sinful nature and become the people we were created to be. This allows us to live a transformed life free from fear.

Sermon Notes -Recap of the sermon series so far: -The only thing that matters is listening to and following Jesus -Jesus defeated evil with weakness, forgiveness, and mercy and we are called to the same -The glory of God is most fully revealed in self-sacrificial love

-This week we are focusing on Luke’s gospel account

-Luke 23:33-34, 44-46 -Sin and death go together hand in hand (can’t have one without the other) -Sin seems so attractive in the moment but it sweeps the rug out from under us and leads to death of all kinds (Not just physical). -e.g. a man has a relationship with his ex while in the midst of another relationship.

-Isaiah 53:4-6 -God promised through the prophet Isaiah over 600 years ago that Jesus would bear our sin on himself -Our sin put Jesus on the cross and killed him -Friday goes by, as does Saturday. Jesus is still in the tomb. All hope is lost or is it…

-Luke 24:1-11, 13-36 -Sunday comes and Jesus is no longer in the grave! He has risen by the power of God -Sin and death have been defeated -But the disciples didn’t understand this at first -As modern day disciples we often forget the gravity of this as well, living in despair due to the sin and death all around us -Luke 24:36; Jesus’s death and resurrection give us the ultimate peace

-There are four ways this peace leads to a changed life: 1. We have total and complete peace with God. Jesus destroyed the power of sin on the cross so we no longer need to fear when we sin. Just take your sin to Jesus and he will sort it out. This leads to a transformed life because we understand how much God loves us.

The peace we have with Jesus causes us to view suffering differently. Not only do we understand that we suffer because we are fighting against evil (means we are doing something right) but we rejoice because our suffering is making us more like Jesus (Rom 5:2-5).
We no longer fear death because Jesus defeated sin on the cross. Death is actually gain (Phil. 1-21). When we die we will lose our sinful nature (old self) and become the people God originally intended us to be.
This peace gives us freedom to live for Jesus. We are no longer tied down by the fear of death and the desire to maximize our possessions and accomplishments on earth. Jesus becomes our treasure.

Application Questions: 1. In what ways have you seen sin yield "death" in your life?

Are there any areas in your life that you are seeking peace outside of Jesus and his finished work on the cross?
How would your life look differently if you lived without fear?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Jesus does and says things that only the God of the Old Testament can do. Jesus is directly asserting that He is the God of the Old Testament.

Sermon Notes: - Mark 2:1-7; Jesus heals a paralyzed man and tells him his sins are forgiven, but the teachers of the law are horrified because only God can forgive sins (Isaiah 43:25).

Mark 4:35-41; Jesus and his disciples cross the sea on a boat, but a large storm whips up while crossing. The disciples wake Jesus, who was sleeping, and Jesus commands the winds and waves to be still, and they obey (Psalm 107:23-29).
It is God and God alone who has the power to calm the storm, and Jesus did just that
Over and over again Jesus speaks and acts as the God of the OT.
The religious leaders are horrified. Who is this man acting like God? And he has real power, what is going on?
The disciples loved him, but were terrified when he said and did things only God could do. They didn't know what to think.
He's saying and doing things only God can do, but he doesn't want his true identity to be known
Mark 3:7-12; Jesus heals a demon possessed man. The demons cry out that he is the Son of God, but Jesus commands them to be silent.Why would Jesus do that?
Mark 9:2-9; Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountain top, and he was transfigured. Moses and Elijah appeared, talking about Jesus. A voice declared "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" But then it all vanished when they looked up, and Jesus told them not to talk about it until the Son of Man was raised from the dead.
Given all the secrecy, he finally reveals himself when He is on trial in front of the religious leaders before He is crucified.
He reveals himself when he is powerless before his mockers and accusers. Why?
Mark 8:27-30; Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" Peter replies, "You are the Messiah"
8:31-32; He tells the disciples that the Son of Man will be betrayed, suffer, and killed, but will rise after three days. Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him
8:33; Jesus replies "Get behind me, Satan!"
Peter, like us all, want the crown, but not the cross
You cannot overcome the abuse of power by exerting power. You cannot overcome evil by using the weapons of evil. Violence generates more violence. Evil takes over those who fight it.
To defeat death and evil, Jesus dies
Mark 14:27-31; Peter claims he will never leave Jesus, but Jesus tells him that he will deny Him three times
We are all Peter, all our betrayals were placed on Jesus, and he dies for us.
But death isn't the end. There is resurrection. When we follow the Jesus way into death, there is always resurrection.
But Peter knows nothing of what is going on. He believes he is a complete failure. So he goes back to what he knows, and goes back to fishing.
John 21:4-9; 12-14
Now that Peter's heart is settled, Jesus turns to restoration. He asks Peter three times if he loves Him, not because Jesus doesn't know that Peter loves Him, but for Peter's sake, to confess it out loud, and receive his calling back.

The Gospel has three parts to it: 1. Because of His love for us, Jesus has overcome evil 2. Now that He has destroyed the evil we created, He offers us forgiveness and a new way of living 3. He invites us, as His people, to take up the weapons of grace and love and forgiveness, and join Him in removing all evil from His good world.

Application Questions: 1. Why would Jesus want to prevent others from revealing who He is?

Why would Jesus wait until He is powerless and defenseless to reveal His identity?
How is it that love and forgiveness are the only way to defeat evil? Why does it not work to repay evil with evil?
How is the initial command to the disciples of "follow me" at the beginning of his ministry different than the command of "follow me" after Jesus' resurrection?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: When the storms come, which they will, you have to listen to Jesus and put his words into practice in your life.

Sermon Notes: Crisis: Every crisis is an invitation and a warning to turn back to God. Our Response should be thoughtful, disciplined, and sustained, even with the Chaos around us.

The storms will come, so when they do, we must: 1. Listen to what Jesus says. 2. Put his words into Practice.

Challenge: Commit right now to doing these two things, because they will bring you abundant life. Come to e4 on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm to learn how to apply sermons to daily life.

There are 3 ways people can respond to Jesus. 1. Luke 19: 1-4, 18: 24-26, 19: 5-10 - Zacchaeus. --- Zacchaeus needed to be saved FROM his wealth. --- He was free from it when he could give it away, and therefore saved. *What do YOU need to be saved from? What blessing in your life has displaced the Blesser? This response: Honesty, repentance, forgiveness, salvation, freedom.

Mark 10:17-23 - Rich, devout man. --- Jesus is saying that what this man lacks is nothing, he has everything, and that's the problem. --- He wants us to be free from all the stuff. --- Our hears were made for him. --- All of human history is the story of man trying to find something other than God to make him happy. *What is it that YOU can't imagine giving up for any reason? This response: I can't do that, it's too much.
Mark 1:16-20 - Fishers of Men. --- Unlike Zacchaeus, nothing here suggests they had something to repent from or that they were looking for something more. --- this was an open invitation, received with glad acceptance --- Matthew 13:44-46 --- It's an invitation to spend the rest of your life with Jesus This response: eager, joyful abandonment

Summary of Responses: 1. You've spent your life climbing the wrong ladder and he finally tells you that you can come down, so you leave it behind. 2. You walk away, because it costs too much. 3. You eagerly, joyfully dance away with the Lord.

Bonus: Fourth way is to stay on the sideline - have a temporary, superficial relationship and then leave him behind.

Application Questions: 1. What ladder are you climbing? 2. What blessing have you allowed to displace the Blesser? 3. What things are you not giving up for the Lord?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: God is committed to mission and the establishment of His kingdom and He designed you with a mission, a purpose, when you find that purpose your heart becomes glad.

Sermon Notes: God wants every nation, and all people to hear of His Word.

Forty years ago, it was estimated that there were almost 14,500 people groups who had not yet heard of Jesus and received testimony, and today it is estimated that there are only 4,500 groups left without disciples.

God created the universe, he then created life, he chose Abraham and taught him His ways. God then sent prophets, but Israel still did not fully understand, so God sent Jesus.

Jesus' mission had 5 main components: 1- Reveal the heart of the Father - never-ending love 2- Save and Rescue - from separation from God (true Hell) 3- Make disciples - of all nations 4- Justice - freedom of the oppressed, healing for afflicted 5- Kingdom - in all areas of life: health, family, community, business, education, government, etc.

We are held back by culture, negative attitudes, and fear. There is power in working as a group on mission.

Application Questions: 1. In your life today, how could you start to fit in time for mission? 2. Is there time at lunch to share with co-workers, and what are some ways in which you could start a conversation about Jesus? 3. What opportunities exist in your community for your family to take on a mission and how could you fit this into a possibly already hectic schedule? 4. What types of missions have you tried? For example, helping at the local food bank, or shelter? 5. When you are out in the community at work or social events, do you approach others and make them feel welcome? If you do not, what holds you back? 6. How can you take steps to becoming the one who approaches others first to start general conversations and develop relationships? 7. How often have you prayed for God to show you your mission or point you in the direction He wants you to go? 8. How would you handle receiving a mission that was 'out of your comfort zone?'

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Community is a Gift: The Gift of Belonging, The Gift of Each Other, The Gift of Love

Jesus modeled the Gift of Community in the Trinity - He is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit - He invited us in and He prayed that we would be one as He and the Father are one.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said "The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength."

Sermon Notes: Community with each other is essential to following Jesus and experiencing the fullness of God, it must be Christ centered, we must help one another follow Jesus while being safe in who we are and who we are not with each other and while navigating the challenges of life.

Even though you may be surrounded by many people, community is more than just the physical proximity to others. It means sharing joys with one another, relying on one another in times of need. It means really loving and caring for one another despite differences, strengths, and weaknesses. Really loving and caring for one another means creating a safe place for people to be who they are, listening and speaking in truth and in love. We must recognize the value of each other, and understand that we are poorer in isolation and so much richer in community with one another.

Application Questions: 1. In what type of communities do you feel you are a part? Church? School? Sports? Work? Neighborhood?

If you experienced something joyous, would you think of sharing it with your members of your community? Why or why not?
If you were in need of something, do you believe you could ask for help? Why or why not?
How much time would you estimate you spend with your family in a week? Do you participate with them in deeper conversations or just superficial topics?
How much time would you estimate you spend with friends in a week? Are these really good friends or just acquaintances, or do you have some of both?
Are you normally the one to initiate get together with friends, or do you typically wait for others to invite you?
If you know you have the strength and love of Jesus with you, would you reach out and deepen friendships with others? Could you be the one to initiate deeper conversations?
Do you feel you have very little time to develop deeper relationships with others? Is there something in your daily or weekly routine that you could give up so that you would have time to develop deeper relationships with others in your communities? If so, what are some of those things?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: How we worship can take many forms, as long as it is "upward" and pure and pleasing to God. Worship becomes a lifestyle, and happens anywhere and at anytime.

Sermon Notes: - THE WHAT

Derived from two Old English words, weorth (worth, value), and scipe (the quality of). The quality of having worth, or being worthy.

God gives worship great importance. The first two of the Ten Commandments deal specifically with worship. There are many references to worship in the old and new testaments.

Worship is humbly bowing before a superior one, physically and spiritually. John Piper says "the chief end of man is to worship" Jesus is the cornerstone of our worship.

Jesus also warns of false worship; worshiping things and people that aren't God, called idolatry, which can lead to many sins.

We also need to be in the right spirit, the right mindset for worship. We can have so many other things on our mind, that while we may be outwardly worshiping God, but our hearts and minds are very far from Him. God is the focus of our Worship.

THE WHY

We worship because of who God is and what He has done.

Worship is the natural response to encountering a supernatural God.

THE HOW

Romans 12:1-2; offer yourselves as a living sacrifice. do not conform but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.

There are so many different ways to express worship, but the place to start is by offering ourselves in the same way that the high priest would offer a sacrifice to God in the Temple.

True and proper worship encounters with God; it's an all in engagement.

2 Corinthians 4:11, 5:14-15

How we worship can take many forms, as long as it is "upward" and pure and pleasing to God. Worship becomes a lifestyle, and happens anywhere and at anytime.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

We welcome to worship because we are expectant that the Lord is going to show up and we may experience him in fresh and sometimes unexpected ways (1 Corinthians 5:4)

Matthew 18:1-6

Application Questions: 1. In what ways have you experienced God through worship?

What are some examples of ways you worship?
What do you do to prepare yourself for your time of worship? How do you get yourself in the "right spirit" to worship?
In your life, how has God shown himself to be worthy of your worship?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Following Jesus in a world of change; we are in a Global Village, however the commands of Jesus transcends time and culture.

Sermon Notes: Our obedience will enable us to understand life at its fullness.

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus has all authority and promises his presence.

Even his choice of 12 was not about them...it is about him! He looked for men who would follow him. The moment this happened they changed the world.

3 Points from Matthew 28

Making disciples is making someone who follows Jesus. Attach is same as disciple.
Baptizing them after they have chosen to follow Jesus.
Teaching obedience, the Word of God becomes life when you live it. Revival happens when we repent and begin to live in obedience, then transformation happens. Luke 14:13; Luke 9:23; Galations 2:20 Love God, then do what you want! Freedom lies the day we surrender! Selective obedience is problematic! When you honor God he will honor you!

Application Questions: 1. What do you think of the phrase, "Come to Jesus and everything will be ok." 2. Who are you attached to? 3. Do we have a church environment that makes disciples? 4. Do you read your Bible every day?

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Main Idea: We need a strong finish as well as a strong beginning. The key to a strong finish is an undivided heart.

Sermon Notes: God offers Solomon a request for any thing he wants from God. Solomon requests wisdom. 1 Kings 3:5

Wisdom could be defined as seeing and responding to life from God's perspective.

After the temple is built God responds to sacrifice with fire. 1 Kings 8

Solomon finds himself at a crossroad, obey or believe God's laws really don't matter. 1 Kings 9:4-7

Solomon doesn't listen. 1 Kings 11:1-10. He marries many women who worship other gods. Deuteronomy 7:3-6, 9 God warns against marriage with these women.

Solomon PERMITTED their worship, PROVIDED places for their worship, an later PARTICIPATED along with them. Downward progression.

Solomon becomes a man with a divided heart. His sinful choices to please himself and others drew him away from God. John 14:23

Sin is rebellion, slavery, and hardens hearts. Ultimately leads to a difficult life.

After his life, his kingdom is split in two.

Later, as God had said the temple Solomon built was destroyed.

Jesus cleansed the temple. John 2:16, claimed that he would rebuild the temple, Matthew 27:39-40, makes his claim good as we are the temple of God with indwelling Spirit.

There is glory in the temple! John 1:1&14, glory in Jesus, and glory in us because of him.

The resurrection is not the finish line for Jesus. He is returning!

Invite God to deep clean us! Proverbs 9:10

REALIZING God's greatness RESPECTING his authority in your life RESTRAIN yourself from evil

God say "you can do it," you can finish well! What we need is an undivided heart.

Application Questions: 1. What are some examples of the tension we experience that pits God's wisdom against worldly wisdom. 2. Why is it difficult at times to trust God's wisdom? 3. Have you ever experienced the progression that Solomon did when he permitted something, then provided something, then participated in that something? 4. Share practical ways we can protect ourselves from a divided heart, when we are with others as well as when we are alone.

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Jesus is our champion and He has already defeated our enemy. Even though our enemy(ies) may be big and scary, God is bigger. Our enemy(ies) taunt us and challenge us - but we can celebrate because of the victory that Jesus has already achieved.

Sermon Notes: In 1 Samuel 17, we ready the story of David and Goliath. Goliath was the champion of the Philistines and was physically larger and stronger than any one of the Israelites. Goliath could easily defeat any one the Israelites sent onto the battle field. However, David knew that with God on his side he had nothing to fear. God could and would defeat Goliath, and He did. David trusted God completely.

Application Questions: 1. What are some 'Goliath's' in your life right now? 2. How are you demonstrating your trust in God in the face of those seemingly invincible obstacles / challenges? 3. What are some 'Goliath's' in our world today? 4. How can our communities demonstrate trust in God? 5. How can you share this with others who might not know of God's power and the victory that Jesus has already secured for us?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Trusting God, therefore trusting His people

Sermon Notes: - Ruth 1:1-5 - Elimelech moves his family to Moab; Elimelech dies in Moab, and his sons marry Moabite women, Kilion marries Orpah, and Mahlon marries Ruth

After Mahlon and Kilion die, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem and she begs Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab. Orpah reluctantly agrees to stay, but Ruth decides to go with Naomi
The extraordinary happened in an ordinary life; in the face of overwhelming loss and uncertainty, Ruth chooses to trust in God and love and return with Naomi
Ruth 1:8, 16-17 - Naomi prays a blessing over Ruth and Orpah as she begs them to return, but Ruth declares her intention to worship Naomi's God and live with her people
Why would Ruth choose to go with Naomi, where life seemed uncertain, and choose to follow a God who seemingly allowed Naomi's life come to ruin? God's love is limitless, acts crazy, is selfless, gives for another...
The kindness Ruth extends is called Hesed, which acts for the benefit of others without asking, "what's in it for me?"
Ruth didn't promise to Naomi that everything would be okay, but she did promise that she would be there with Naomi.

-Ruth 2:2 - one of God's promises for the poor and widowed was gleaning privileges in the fields; to go into the fields after the workers had collected a harvest and to gather up what was left behind.

Ruth 2:8-13 - Ruth's faith in God came to fruition when she found favor while gleaning in the fields belonging to Boaz
Boaz is the son of Rahab, whose story is told in Joshua 2:12-14.
Random acts of kindness are wonderful, but Hesed is deeper; there is a commitment, a loyalty
Boaz extends hesed to Ruth and to Naomi, allowing them to glean only in his field and has ordered his workers to leave extra behind for them.
Ruth 2:20, 3:10-11, 4:9-10 - Ruth tells Naomi about Boaz, Boaz addresses an issue keeping him from marrying Ruth, and after Boaz declares to the people that they are witnesses that Ruth is his bride and Naomi's family line continues on through him.
Ruth 4:17 - Ruth and Boaz have a son, Obed, who is father of Jesse, who is father of David, future king of Israel
Perhaps the greatest stories aren't found in burning bushes and parting seas, but rather in the cross, in the simple trust of God who pours out hesed over us and trusts us with the capacity to do the same.

Application Questions: 1. What will you do when it seems like life is falling down around you? Who will you turn to?

At the crossroads of uncertainty, ill we be people who bear the image of our Father and offer hesed?
Where have we withheld hesed from others?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: You can't win until you give in.

Sermon Notes: - Jacob was not a good brother: he took advantage of his older brother by taking his inheritance, lied to his father to get his brother's blessing, and then continued to lie to other in order to be successful (after having to run away from his brother). - Jacob was then the recipient of deceit: his uncle lied to him about marrying Rachel (whom he loved) and forced him to marry Leah first. - When it was finally take for Jacob to face his brother again, he was scared and he went to pray, where he wrestled with the Lord. -- The Lord sent him away with a limp, but also with a new identity (he went from Jacob, a deceiver, to Israel, a prince). - Sometimes, God creates limps (weaknesses) to remind us to depend fully on him. - When Jacob faced his brother, they were reconciled, due to the humility the Lord taught him through the wrestling match. - To win, you must give in (to the Lord).

Application Questions: 1. What have you been wrestling with God about? How do you feel you can respond in obedience today? 2. Have you ever wrestled with God about something that left you with a limp? In retrospect, how has that limp helped you? 3. How have you seen God use your weaknesses, or your "stuff," for His glory?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: Our connection to God is through relationship, not fear, and He sometimes makes, what seems like to us, outrageous, impossible promises. He keeps inviting us to come closer to Him, despite our lack of trust and our failures. Promises may not be fulfilled on our time table, but they will be fulfilled if we choose to enter into relationship with Him, and not a fake relationship either, a truly honest relationship, one where we are not afraid to show him our true feelings.

Sermon Notes: This past weekend’s sermon centered on the story of Abraham. He did not yet have a relationship with God, and God made him a promise to bless him. That did not mean however, that he would have an easy life with no worries or responsibilities. It did mean that God wanted a relationship with him.

God also promised to bless the whole world through one of his descendants. Although at that time, Abraham and Sarah had no children and were getting older.

Abraham did not yet trust God, and was filled with much anxiety and fear. Fear causes us to try and control our world, through gaining power, power over our education, career, our budgets. It can also lead us to deception, manipulation, and betrayal. Abraham’s fear led him to betray his relationship with Sarah, not once, but at least twice and brought on all kinds of problems for Abraham, Sarah, and Egypt’s Pharaoh.

Gaining power in this world does nothing to alleviate fear, because once you’ve gained power, your fear is doubled since you may lose the very thing that you believe gives you power.

The only true way to confront fear, is placing trust in the only One who truly does control everything, God. He will be with us through every joy and every heartache.

Abraham’s relationship with God evolved over time, and God never left him, God was faithful to Abraham, understanding his frailty and failures. When Abraham finally began a true and trusting relationship with God, that’s when things began to turn around. When Abraham finally started talking truthfully to God, to the point of laughing at God’s promises and saying to God, he could not believe the promise of children, that’s when a real relationship began. Abraham could say to God, ‘I’m afraid, I’m having a hard time believing children are possible’.

When we pray, we need to be honest, despite that fact that God know us inside and out from our very molecules, He desperately wants a true relationship with us, one where we are not afraid to say ‘that’s impossible, it’s hard to believe’, or even ‘I’m angry with you, and hurt because this bad thing has happened’ – He will be there with us through it all.

Key Verses: Genesis 12:1-20, 15:1-6, 17:3-22, 20:1-7, 21:1-6; Psalms 20:7-8; 61:1-2

Application Questions: 1. Where do you feel your relationship is with God right now? Distant (fear and doubt) or close (trust and freedom)?

How do you know this? If you look back on your actions over the past few weeks, do they hint at where you are in your relationship to God? How so?
He might already know your inner feelings, but do you feel you can speak them ‘aloud’ to God in prayer?
If it is early in your relationship with God, what do you believe would help bring you closer?
Would you be willing to devote more time to learning and discussing scripture with others?
Would you be willing to spend more time in quiet prayer with Him?

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SERMON NOTES (click arrow to the right to open)

Main Idea: When facing uncertain times, come together and turn to God in prayer.

Key Verses: Psalms 119: 147-148, 81-82, 103; Acts 1: 3-4, 6-9, 12-14; Acts 2: 1-14, 22-24, 32-33, 36-38, 41; Gal 3: 1; Acts 4: 23-24, 31-35

Sermon Notes: Heritage is facing change and disruption, but the first church also encountered constant, profound disruption for many reasons: - persecution - sin - doctrine - racial tension

Disruption creates fear, anger, suspicions - the disciples also dealt with these feelings. There's deep wisdom in the Word.

The disciples came together in prayer, they prayed and they waited for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. When that happened they were able to portray Jesus to the world as their crucified and risen savior.

The pattern is the same throughout history when disruption occurs: - move upward in worship - move toward one another in love - move outward into the world with the gospel of Jesus

Application Questions: Think back to times in your personal life when disruptions have occurred, whether great or small. 1. How did you handle the disruption(s)? 2. If you turned to friends/loved ones, how did they comfort you? With words or actions? 3. Did you also pray, and how did the comfort you received from friends/loved ones compare to comfort received with prayer? 4. If you have examples of how prayer has helped you or someone you know, please share with the group the experience and how it has affected your faith.

Heritage Sermon Audio: Recent Episodes

Heritage Christian Church

7. How do you treat others that disagree with you? Is it with the love that Jesus and Paul says comes from the Kingdom of God?

1 Turn Away from all those other things that distract you from a simple trust in Jesus... set aside all those other things that you’re looking to to quench the thirst of your soul...

2 Turn Toward Jesus and ask Him daily to fill you up to overflowing with living water... with the Holy Spirit.

3 Turn Outwards by asking Jesus to open your eyes to the thirst of the world around you... and ask Him to give you wisdom and courage and boldness to be that fifth witness for Him in the world around you.