Grace Community Church-Loveland CO: Recent Episodes
Gary Glover
Do you have a favorite brand?
We all have a favorite brand in some aspect of our lives. This is a brand that we don’t have to think about. If given the option, the default choice is this brand.
What would it take for you to convert to another brand?
Not just try it once or twice, but fully convert to another brand, making it your favorite. This new brand has become your default. You no longer buy the previous brand, and are even encouraging others to switch to the new brand.
We are wired to prefer the familiar, from a favorite type of coffee to a favorite seat. Because we don’t like change, it takes a lot to fully convert to something different.
In Psalm 34, David is challenging us to consider converting to fully following God. This is more than just an intellectual ascent to historical events, but a full commitment to knowing and following God as the chief goal in life. Just like David, we can realize who God is and commit to becoming people after His heart.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 34
After many weeks learning about psalms that relate to our suffering, this week’s psalm is a reminder that God is working and this earthly life of struggle is not all there is. Psalm 90 is one of the oldest psalms given that its author is Moses. The eternal nature of God is highlighted contrasted with the temporary nature of wilderness wanderings in this world. Moses prays to be satisfied by the Lord’s love which cannot fail and for God’s beauty to reign as He establishes the work undertaken by His children. It is refreshing to remember God’s eternal nature, power and glory. Like Moses we too can receive comfort from the eternal nature of God, be humbled as we consider the frailty of mankind, and commit ourselves to the One whose mercy and grace is beautifully given throughout all generations.
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 90
Wait!
Such a frustrating command and discouraging place it is to be when called upon to wait.
One definition of ‘wait’ is to remain neglected for a time. An additional definition is to look forward to something eagerly. Both ideas are woven throughout Psalm 27. Here David builds a case for God’s goodness, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and care based on past experience and reliable promises. It is from these truths that a child of God draws strength in their own wait. The pattern David models for us in this psalm is:
· Declared confidence in who God is, “The Lord is my light and my salvation”,
· Desperate pleas for God’s needed presence; “Do not hide your face from me”,
· Seeking guidance and help; “Teach me, Lead me”,
· Encouragement; “I remain confident I will see the goodness of the Lord…Take heart and wait for the Lord.”
When we are in need we can use this pattern as we form our own songs and prayers. And when words fail us we can use the words of this psalm as our own prayer and heart’s strengthening.
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading psalm 27
Poetry can speak volumes through imagery and an economy of words, it truly is a beautiful art form. Right off the bat we are told that this psalm was written by David when he was in the desert, or wilderness. Whichever word you choose, this is a place of loneliness, of danger, thirst, and difficulty. It is a desperate place and a place of vulnerability to many types of threats. One of David’s conclusions in this psalm is that God’s love is better than life. It is the one thing that cannot be shaken, it is the one thing that is secure, steadfast, and unfailing. The desert places cannot touch the love of God no matter how it feels at the time. Like Paul, David seems convinced of this truth – we cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8)
When we find ourselves in wilderness seasons – when all seems hopeless and the land of our souls is dry, weary, and without refreshment – let us remember God is here. God is with us. God loves us. He has not forsaken us. His love will not fail us. He will see us through and none of this will last forever. We will one day be satisfied in His presence and know His love face to face. In the meantime, let us cling to the One who is strong enough to save us and tenderly holds us close –Jesus—our Shepherd, our Comfort, our Living Water.
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 63.
During the time of Moses, the tribe of Levi was given the role of service in God’s tabernacle. One of these men, Korah, was dissatisfied with his role in the temple and wanted the place of honor that Moses held. Korah led a rebellion which resulted in disaster and death for Korah, his family, and all those who had sided with him against Moses’ leadership. (See Numbers 16) But not all perished that day, there were some who sided with the Lord and were spared. Fast forward to the time of David and these descendants of Korah are serving in the temple focused on the praise and musical aspect of worship. In Psalm 42, these descendants of Korah give an honest complaint from a state of discouragement. They hunger for more of God (rather than more status among men) but God feels distant.
In the life of a Christian there can also be seasons of spiritual dryness and times where our soul thirsts for God to make Himself known to us. We hunger for His nearness, yet He feels so very far away. We long for His touch, yet day in and day out we feel numb, empty, and discouraged. It is very trying and can be quite unsettling when this type of season thrusts itself upon us.
The words recorded in Psalm 42 models for us honesty in the midst of real hunger, honesty in the ache that comes from waiting, and honesty in the reality of God’s faithfulness that can be counted on in spite of and in the midst of our discouragement.
We can confidently put our hope in God, our Savior, for we will yet praise Him.
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 42.
David Guzak writes; “This psalm is simply titled To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Charles Spurgeon rightly said regarding the title of this psalm,“The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung.” We have no definite marking place in David’s life for this psalm because he was so often in trouble. It resonates with deep and personal trust in God in the depths of difficulty.
Psalm 31 is a good one to memorize – for all who walk this earth will suffer and need words when there are no words. (Jesus did tell us; “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”)
In Psalm 31 David calls out and names his deep distress alongside truths that enable him to take heart in the midst of the pain. One of the common traps set for us is to believe that God has forsaken and that His love has failed. David's cries and pleas for help are based on the reality of God’s unchanging and unfailing love – a love that exists outside of and on a completely different plain than David’s troubles.
The pattern David gives for our own impossible circumstances, crises of faith, sickness, distress, depression, despair and death is this: “this is how things are, this is who You are Lord, please move according to the character I know is true of You but do not see, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me, free me from the traps that are set for me.”
While we wait for the Lord’s deliverance, and especially for those for whom the wait is long, do take heart – none of this can last forever.
Jesus has overcome and He loves us. His mercy is new every morning. He is a strong fortress and able to save.
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 31
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. (The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23. We are confident that by hiding God's word in your heart in this way will bear fruit that will last all throughout your life.
“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”
Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing.
In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”
The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25
Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73
“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”
Isn’t that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing.
In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”
The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord’s sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25
Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 73
Psalm 24 lifts our eyes up to the grandeur of God and His rule over all that exists in His creation. If not read through the lens of Christ, our eyes drop in discouragement over the next set of verses—for who can enter the presence of their Creator but only those with clean hands and a pure heart! This statement is a universal qualifier. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, slave or free, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat. Who can say that their heart is pure and their hands are clean? According to scripture – no one! But also, anyone and everyone – no matter where they are from or what they have done, is invited in to stand before the King of the Universe with confidence based soley on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the door by which we enter into the presence of Almighty God. (John 3:16, John 10:7, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 10:12-13, Hebrews 4:15-16, Revelation 3:20)
Because of Jesus this psalm is a song of victory and praise, of unity and celebration! In all His grandeur, might and strength, He is near to His people who exist all over the globe! Let us be mindful of the psalmist’s call to acknowledge that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Let us allow the depths of this truth to permeate into every facet of our being such that the King of Glory can be welcomed into our hearts, homes, and neighborhoods!
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 24 with the scriptures highlighted above.
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23, feel free to join with them or choose a psalm to your liking. There are 12 weeks of summer – breaking the psalm down into manageable portions and then building on them week by week is a helpful strategy when taking on longer portions of scripture.
In a well produced film, the soundtrack accompanies the story in an honest and appropriate way. Likewise, God has not left us without a soundtrack to accompany us on our own journey. The life of every human includes a storyline of joys and sorrows, health and pain, mountaintops and valleys, for which God has given us the Psalms: a hymnbook for every occasion and every emotion.
This summer our sermon series will return to the Psalms to build upon last year and add to your repertoire a deeper understanding of a few more that we have yet to uncover. Remember that the Psalms are poetry and contain structure and rhythm. Some are designated to be sung with instruments. Taking on the practice of reading poetry can enhance your understanding and familiarity with this art form.
We will begin in Psalm 2 – a messianic poem declaring the unshakable hope that is found in Christ who is Israel’s Messiah and true King. Psalm 2 is the second part of the introduction which began with Psalm 1. This psalm is quoted directly in the New Testament 4 times (Acts 4:25-27, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5) and alluded to in Revelation 2:27, 12:5, and 19:15.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reviewing Psalm 1 and reading Psalm 2 with its new testament quotes in their context (Acts 4, 13, Hebrews 1, 5)
To help us keep God’s word planted deep into our hearts we encourage you to memorize a Psalm over the Summer. The children in Grace Airways will be memorizing all of Psalm 23, feel free to join with them or choose a psalm to your liking. There are 12 weeks of summer – breaking the psalm down into manageable portions and then building on them week by week is a helpful strategy when taking on longer portions of scripture.
Laodicea, an important city of the Roman Empire, had a serious issue with drinkable water. Hot Springs filled with impurities were a main source of water for the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed an attempt to bring water from an outside source in through stone pipes containing limestone deposits which would have contaminated the water for drinking.
Just as lukewarm water is useless, the church in Laodicea is useless to Jesus. Dependency is a sign of maturity for a Christian. The danger of wealth is that it has the potential to create independent people. They may feel competent and successful but they are in actuality poor, and pitiful. Jesus strong words are a love gift to wake them up and reset their lives onto a new trajectory. They need only to repent, turn away from self-sufficiency and turn back to Jesus!
By now we can see each church named is located in a real place with real temptations, hardships, and opposition. This is how it is for all Christians in all centuries – for we do have a very real enemy and this world is not our home. Additionally we have also seen how Jesus uses illustrations from the reader’s own environment to communicate deep spiritual truths for greater understanding among its hearers. He did this all throughout the gospels as well!
In Summary:
•Ephesus – drifting church: right doctrine but did not have love
•Smyrna – suffering church: going through persecution—encouraged to stay faithful
•Pergamum – compromising church: held to the truth—exhorted to not compromise
•Thyatira – tolerant church: tolerance led to unfaithfulness
•Sardis – defeated church: apathy and material wealth lead to defeat
•Philadelphia—suffering church: going through persecution—Jesus reminds them of His love.
•Laodicea—lukewarm church: apathy and material wealth lead to uselessness
The pattern laid out in these letters is: who Jesus is, who the church is, exhortations and promises.
Let us take to heart the condition of each church, examining our own walk and the culture of our own church against each possible state. Let us receive both Jesus' words of encouragement in suffering and His warnings in apathy. Above all else let us wake up to and rejoice in our “great need for a Saviour and a great Saviour for our need!” (Spurgeon)
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 3:14-22
Laodicea, an important city of the Roman Empire, had a serious issue with drinkable water. Hot Springs filled with impurities were a main source of water for the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed an attempt to bring water from an outside source in through stone pipes containing limestone deposits which would have contaminated the water for drinking.
Just as lukewarm water is useless, the church in Laodicea is useless to Jesus. Dependency is a sign of maturity for a Christian. The danger of wealth is that it has the potential to create independent people. They may feel competent and successful but they are in actuality poor, and pitiful. Jesus strong words are a love gift to wake them up and reset their lives onto a new trajectory. They need only to repent, turn away from self-sufficiency and turn back to Jesus!
By now we can see each church named is located in a real place with real temptations, hardships, and opposition. This is how it is for all Christians in all centuries – for we do have a very real enemy and this world is not our home. Additionally we have also seen how Jesus uses illustrations from the reader’s own environment to communicate deep spiritual truths for greater understanding among its hearers. He did this all throughout the gospels as well!
In Summary:
•Ephesus – drifting church: right doctrine but did not have love
•Smyrna – suffering church: going through persecution—encouraged to stay faithful
•Pergamum – compromising church: held to the truth—exhorted to not compromise
•Thyatira – tolerant church: tolerance led to unfaithfulness
•Sardis – defeated church: apathy and material wealth lead to defeat
•Philadelphia—suffering church: going through persecution—Jesus reminds them of His love.
•Laodicea—lukewarm church: apathy and material wealth lead to uselessness
The pattern laid out in these letters is: who Jesus is, who the church is, exhortations and promises.
Let us take to heart the condition of each church, examining our own walk and the culture of our own church against each possible state. Let us receive both Jesus' words of encouragement in suffering and His warnings in apathy. Above all else let us wake up to and rejoice in our “great need for a Saviour and a great Saviour for our need!” (Spurgeon)
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 3:14-22
This week’s church is in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. Yes that’s the tagline for the Philadelphia in the US, but we didn’t coin the phrase. Brotherly love is what Philadelphia means in the Greek. This is a place along a trade route linking Europe to Asia and where earthquakes are common. This little church was harassed by what Jesus refers to as “the synagogue of Satan, those who claim to be Jews but are not”
Jesus’ reassurance to this ‘church of little strength’ is poignant; “I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”
To be loved is a basic human need – we must have it and we try all sorts of ways to get it. When feeling crushed under the weight of pain, rejection, and suffering one of the most jarring accusations, whether it be from within or without, is the thought that God has forsaken, that I am not loved by Him.
Alternately, one of the most strengthening, courage giving realities is that God does in fact love me – regardless of what the circumstances may be. God has loved me with an everlasting, unfailing, secure and steadfast love. This truth is often under attack when trials come our way. This question of being loved is common for us to ask when we are hurting. There is one place we can go for assurance of God’s love and that is the cross of Christ. It doesn’t answer our confusion or the why of our pain. But it does prove that we are in fact loved. We can trust Jesus because He has loved us. Let this truth sink in and give you strength to keep His word and declare His name.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Revelation 3:7-13 with Romans 8:31-39
To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Jesus has told us;
"No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me….apart from Me you can do nothing. ---John 15
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” ---John 6:60
After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before doing anything else. We know that it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that anything a church or a pastor does bears any fruit that will last. And yet, the wealth we have as Americans enables us to function within our own power and strength – even Christian things can be powered by the flesh instead of the Spirit.
This was the problem the church in had. Wealth, pleasure, luxury, and decadence are words that have been used to describe Sardis. Theirs was a culture of ease and comfort which prioritized earthly pleasures and afforded them easy money. If we can’t relate, we aren’t paying attention!
The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but this reputation was not accurate. From the outside it appeared everything was good and fruitful. A church may appear sound and successful, they may say the right things and do good deeds – all by the power of their own flesh and intellect rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus saw through all of this into what they really were – dead!
Jesus reminds this church of His authority and that it is from Him the Holy Spirit is made available to them as the Father’s gift. They need only to repent and receive Him! So it is for all of Jesus' disciples. We must remain connected to the giver of Life and we must be diligent about doing so.
To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” ---Revelation 12:11
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading John 15 with Revelation 3:1-6
Lydia was from Thyatira and was a dealer in purple cloths. She was converted in Philippi when she heard Paul speak (Acts 16:1-15) Paul accepted her invitation stay with her in her home and he and Silas returned to her home when they were released from prison. (Acts 19:16-40)
Thyatira was a small and insignificant area famous for the dying of cloth. The trade guilds were places of idolatry and sexual immorality yet essential for all who conducted business in the arts and trades. This posed a significant problem for the Christians there as they would need great fortitude to continue in their trade and earn an income while abstaining from the idolatrous practices that were so prevalent among the guilds.
Jesus knows that they have been growing in their love, faith, service, and endurance. He knows the level of idolatry they are facing and it is reassuring to know He addresses it with authority and with mercy. He quotes from Psalm 2 when He encourages the overcomers and this Psalm is a reminder that He is more powerful than any nation on this earth. This knowledge would help the church of Thyatira to endure and stand strong in the midst of their trials and is a comfort for us in the midst of all that is wrong in our world today. Repentance is available to us for the areas we have compromised along with strength for maintaining loyalty and commitment to Christ above all else.
When our livlehood is threatened, we can remain faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit and by remembering that our time on earth is short. Our trials are temporary and our God is mighty. He will forgive us when we repent, He knows how hard it is and what we are up against. His mercies are new every morning and His love does not fail.
To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 2, Acts 16, and Revelation 2:18-29
Pergamum sits north of Smyrna and about 16 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. Their massive library rivaled the library in Alexandria housing thousands of works. It was in Pergamum where the use of more expensive and longer lasting parchment was developed (1). In addition to three temples dedicated to the emperor, Pergamum also had a temple for Asclepius, god of healing; Dionysius, god of “wine and ecstasy";(2) Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, along with the great alter to Zeus(3) (considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world)
The Christians here stood strong in their faith in and worship of Christ, but struggled with tolerance and compromise over wrong teachings about Him. Living in such a hostile environment towards the things of Christ would have been difficult. The belief systems and practices surrounding them were idolatrous and immoral and to hold fast not just to declaring Christ as Lord but also discerning practically how that applies to daily life would require courage and fortitude. Allowing idolatrous and immoral teaching and practice to creep into their church hindered their ability to fully honor Jesus and maintain faithfulness to His word. The church needed to take these things seriously and stop.
To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Revelation 2:12-17
Smyrna was a city of wealth, trade, and deep loyalty to Rome. In 195 BC Smyrna built a temple to Roma, the goddess of Rome. Theirs was a city for whom Emperor worship was central, in AD 12 a temple was built to honor the Emperor Tiberias and during Domitian’s time (A.D. 81-96) it was a requirement for every Roman citizen to give worship, allegiance, and loyalty to Rome’s emperors. For a Christian to give allegiance solely to God alone would be unacceptable and punishable by death. The temptation to compromise would be great, wouldn’t it? At the yearly feast, why not just say the words to the Roman officials without actually meaning them? Is it so wrong to call Ceasor ‘Lord’ – what are words anyway? It’s what is in the heart that matters, right? When facing poverty, hardship, and death these rationalizations would sound convincing.
Though living in this wealthy city, Jesus tells us that the Christians there were poor. It appears their commitment to declaring Jesus only as Lord has cost them. To this suffering church, Jesus reminds them of His deity (I am the first and the last) and His conquering of death. He has seen their suffering – they are not alone or unknown in all that they have been facing. What comfort these words must have been!
To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Revelation 2:8-11 with Isaiah 44:6
What would it mean to you to have someone know you – to know your strengths and your weaknesses and to know this accurately? All of us carry a fear of being found out and rejected. The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus does Know us Completely and has not rejected us. No! On the contrary He loves us more deeply than we can even comprehend. Remember: Jesus is who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev 1:5-6) This is the One who is moving in His church even today. And this is the One who is speaking through His word given to us in our Bibles. And this is the One speaking to these churches in Asia.
Ephesus was a seaport city and a place where the Apostle Paul founded a church. The temple of Artemis (or Diana) was ranked among one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Apostle John also spend time in Ephesus ministering to the Ephesian church there. In Acts 19:1-10 we read of how the gospel went forth out of Ephesus and in Acts 19:23-41 we read of how the silversmiths feared a loss of income from their sale of idols by the rise of Christianity there.
To really make the most out of this week’s message (and this series) we encourage you to read Acts 19, the book of Ephesians and Revelation 2:1-7. It would take about 30 minutes, less then a podcast episode!, and will greatly enhance your understanding of the church in Ephesus, give insight into what they were facing, how God has been at work among them, and the means of maintaining Love and Devotion to Jesus – who is Worthy of it all.
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 2:1-7, with Acts 19 and Ephesians 1-6
Through the Resurrection all who trust in Jesus can live Victoriously.
Seven churches in Asia minor were each given a letter with encouragements, corrections and promises to those who overcome. How do we overcome and live victoriously? It is by faith alone, through grace alone. Jesus' victory is ours through faith in His work on our behalf. All Praise, Honor, and Glory to Jesus, the Living One who was dead and is alive for ever and ever!!
A Note on the book of Revelation:
Revelation is a letter of prophecy written to seven churches in Asia minor. There are differing perspectives among Biblical scholars as to how Revelation is to be read and understood. This is true of not yet fulfilled prophecy in all of scripture, both Old and New Testament alike. We need not be afraid of reading this portion of scripture because of all the controversy. As with every text of God’s word – Jesus is both the One revealed and the One who is doing the revealing. Jesus makes Himself known to us and as long as we keep our eyes focused on magnifying Jesus and resting in His consistent character we can allow room for mystery and our own limitations without losing heart or getting off track.
Our sermon series will focus on each individual church's letter found in chapters 1-3. These first-century churches in the Roman province of Asia (currently western Turkey) are mentioned; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. We'll begin with the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos where he sees Jesus in all His glory. John does his best to record what he has seen and heard within the limitations of human language. (Chapter 1)
To help us maintain our focus over the next eight weeks, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:
“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
To help you begin, take time to write the memory verse on notecards and place in an ideal location for your daily review.
Additionally, as you prepare for this week’s teaching, read Revelation 1:1-20 and your study Bible’s introduction (if applicable, or Click here for the ESV Global Study Bible’s Introduction to Revelation)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. All Praise, Honor, and Glory to our Victorious Christ!!
We begin our last week of preparation walking with Jesus as he enters Jerusalem to the praise of an adoring crowd. Looking at all that transpires between this triumphal entry and Jesus' death we notice such Grace, patience, fortitude and forgiveness from our Victorious Christ. We also see people whose understanding is incomplete and who 'know not what they do' - be it shouts of "Hosanna!" or shouts of "Crucify!" Let us take time this week to meditate on Jesus' life, character, and the hope held out in the gospel.
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 19:28-44. For your continued pursuit, use our Holy Week Devotional for daily readings and join us for our Good Friday Service at 5:30pm or 7:00pm
The point Paul makes is that to be a leader and shepherd over the church of God, one’s character and lifestyle must reflect Christ. This goes beyond a leader’s skillset, ability to teach, preach, serve or give. Paul talks about demonstrating Christlike character related to finances, family, physical health and spiritual maturity. These godly leaders are to build their lives on the solid foundation of the Word of God and the Grace found in Jesus. They are to encourage those who are keeping step with the Holy Spirit to persevere and those who are heading the wrong way to turn back to Jesus and live.
During our study of Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14.
For this week continue to work on memorizing Titus 2:11:
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Titus 1:5-9
Titus was a Greek who had become a Christian through Paul’s teaching. He was left on the island of Crete to tend to the ministry there and establish the church with sound doctrine leading to transformed lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Crete at that time, on the one hand they have false teachers deceiving the new Christians, on the other hand a cultural tendency toward moral laxity regarding sin – making this new church susceptible to the danger of both belief and behavior that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus.
This letter from Paul is meant to strengthen and exhort Titus to exercise his authority as a representative of the Apostles. Paul stresses that proper belief is the basis for proper behavior, and weaves in the reality of our salvation being by faith alone, through grace alone, resulting in lives that change.
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Titus 1:1-4
Additionally, as we embark on our study of Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14.
We have found that memorizing one verse at a time and then stacking a new verse onto the old one to be a helpful way to memorize a larger portion of Scripture.
For this week focus on memorizing Titus 2:11:
" For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."
Practically speaking, how is the Holy Spirit at work in the world? What is He seeking to accomplish? There is both a diversity and unity to the working and gifting of the Holy Spirit. He gives God's people different skills and abilities, different ministries, and different activities to accomplish His will, but it is the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God who is doing the work within that diversity. And everything is soley by His grace and for His glory!
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Ephesians 4:1-16
What does it mean to "keep in step" with the Holy Spirit? How do we do it? How do we tell the difference between the Spirit and our flesh? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?
These are tough questions to answer. Thankfull we are not left to guess or figure it out on our own. God's word gives us help and contrasts for us acts that come from our flesh with acts that come from the Holy Spirit living within us.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading John 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 3:1-3, Galatians 5:16-26, and Ephesians 5:15-20
As He prepared His disciples for His upcoming death, Jesus said it was to their advantage that He was leaving - so that the Holy Spirit could be sent to them. There is specific work that the Holy Spirit does in the world and in the life of a believer. What is that work? How can we tell the difference between the Holy Spirit's work and a counterfeit? Join us on Sunday as we seek to better understand the works of the Holy Spirit.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Acts 1:3-8; 2:1-41, John 16:7-14; 3:3-6, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:6, John 14:16-17, John 14:26; 16:12-15, Romans 8:26-27, and John 14:15-18
Grace's statement of faith says this about the Holy Spirit;
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Trinity, is to apply the saving work of Christ. He does this by bringing conviction of a person’s need for the forgiveness of Christ. He regenerates their heart and then permanently indwells them when they believe. His ongoing work is to guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. www.gracecomm.org/what-we-believe
Who is the person of the Holy Spirit? What is He like and what does He do? Join us Sunday as we begin a new series to help us better understand the Holy Spirit as He is revealed to us in scripture.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Mark 8:34-38 with 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, John 14:16,26;15:26
Jesus summons the multitude with His disciples and explains what it means to be His disciple. As with everything we devote ourselves to, there is a cost - there are things that must go to make room for our devotion. Let us start off the fall season pondering what it means for each of us to lose our lives for Jesus and the gospel, so that we gain that which is better - namely Christ!
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Mark 8:34-38
Paul tells us;
“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.” ---Romans 4:4-6
Paul is referring to psalm 32 where David recounts the joy - the relief – the true delight he found in having the weight of his sin lifted by the Lord’s forgiveness.
This is a psalm to think deeply on. A Psalm to pause at each section and ponder the meaning and implications held there. The instructions given in the title; “A Psalm of David, a Maskil" is thought to label this psalm as a song or poem of contemplation and instruction. As our understanding of God’s forgiveness deepens, so too our understanding of His unfailing love deepens. This creates in us a deeper trust in and greater praise of God, the Forgiving One who is our Savior and King.
When teaching on Psalm 8, Spurgeon tells us; “The first and last verses are a sweet song of admiration, in which the excellence of the name of God is extolled. The intermediate verses are made up of holy wonder at the Lord's greatness in creation, and at his condescension towards man.”
In Matthew 21, Jesus quotes this psalm to the Pharisees, declaring to them once again His identity as God;
...when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise]?”
When we take time to read these words slowly and consider the depths of their meaning, we are left in awe of the grandeur of God, His work among us, and His attention towards us. How majestic indeed is our Lord’s character magnified throughout all the earth!
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 8.
This Psalm highlights God’s character understood through His Creation (vs. 1- 6) and through His Word (vs. 7-11). It then moves into understanding our great need for our Lord to help us (vs. 12-14), culminating with the hopeful reality we have with the Lord as our firm and steadfast Rock and Redeemer.
There is a grandeur in nature that leaves us awe-struck, it shows us how big and powerful and creative God is. While God’s glory appears much in the works of creation, it is shown even more through the words of scripture. The scriptures give us a more complete and intimate knowledge of the character of God. As we come to understand God more deeply, we realize how small, ignorant and powerless we truly are. The beautiful thing is we are not left hopeless and discouraged, because while our God is big and majestic, He is also a kind and merciful Savior. He has invited us to know Him and be known by Him. He does not leave us to fend for ourselves but helps us.
May this be our daily plea; that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts bring glory to our worthy God.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 19
The context for Psalm 51 is David’s sin of adultery, murder, covering over his sin, and a hardness of heart towards repentance. It took a visit from the prophet Nathan with storied words to prick David’s heart - and break it - over all that he had done. It might be easy to look upon David and think; how could he be so dull to the evil in his heart? It seems so obvious to us. So true, often, are the sins we have normalized within our culture. Would that we could have a friend who loves us enough to point it out, and hearts humble enough to receive the correction!
This psalm illuminates the grandeur of God’s mercy, His love that does not fail, and His compassion towards us in our wretched state. May the words of this psalm restore to us the joy of His salvation! May we be open to recognizing our sin, knowing that it is safe to do so because our Father God welcomes our broken and contrite hearts as an offering of faith.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by meditating on the words of Psalm 51 with 2 Samuel 11-12
There are countless sources of distress in our lives. External tragedies and brokenness that threaten our sense of well-being along with our inner sins that take away our peace. But we are not ones who face these things alone or without hope. We have a God we can turn to in our distress, a God who hears us and who comforts us as nothing and no one else can.
In this psalm, David cries out to God in his distress. “His holy trust, his many conflicts, his great transgressions, his bitter repentance, and his deep distresses are all here;” comments Charles Spurgeon.
In addition to being another acrostic psalm (with each line representing a letter from the Hebrew alphabet) this psalm contains a rhythm of movement between prayer and meditation on God’s character.
-
Prayer – Psalm 25:1-7
-
Meditation – Psalm 25:8-10
-
Prayer – Psalm 25:11
-
Meditation – Psalm 25:12-15
-
Prayer Psalm 25:16-22
This is a pattern we can copy to bring comfort and restored hope in the midst of our crying out to God in our distress. Prepare for this weeks teaching by reading Psalm 25.
According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Psalms 113-118 are part of the Hallelujah Psalms. These were sung during Passover, with Psalms 115-118 sung after drinking the last cup of the feast. Passover was a celebration of God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. God had shown Himself mighty and demonstrated His power over the pagan gods of Egypt.
At the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples would have sung these psalms. To think of these words being sung by our Lord before He went to the Mount of Olives to pray gives added depth of meaning to the words. (Mark 14:12-26) As you read through this psalm, do so in light of God’s previous acts of deliverance culminating with Jesus’ work on the cross ultimately delivering us from sin and death, working for us the blessing of salvation and life eternal.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 115
Our lives are full of shakable things - many good and wonderful things, yet temporary all the same. It's comforting to know that there are some things and some One we can count on that cannot, ever, no matter what, be shaken: Jesus and His kingdom, Jesus' forgiveness, Jesus' covenantal love, Jesus victory, and Jesus' ability to hold all things together - including us!
Prepare for this week's message by reading through Psalm 16, praising God that "because the Lord is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Psalm 13 opens with the heart cry of the oppressed; How Long?
This is an ache you may know well, either from personal suffering or from your love of another who is suffering. This world is not as it is supposed to be.
The cry of lament is a faithful practice of taking our pain, our complaints, and our sorrows to the Lord, trusting that He will not turn away from us. If we struggle to find words, there are at least 50 Psalms we can turn to. As we do, we will find that the psalmist pours out his anguish to the Lord, but does not stay there. Often the psalms of Lament end with reminders of God’s character, His faithfulness, salvation, and unfailing love. This pattern is instructive – showing us the way through our grief, not by pretending and stuffing it down, nor by sitting in it as though it is the only true thing. Rather, by pouring out our raw and honest emotions to the One who comforts as no one else can and then reminding ourselves of His love that knows no bounds—we are helped.
Prepare for this week’s message by reading Psalm 13.
Praise comes not just from emotion, but from intentional thought. In Psalm 145, David says he will meditate on the Lord’s wonderful works, implying a choice rather than a feeling. To give thought to the amazing things the Lord does is always a good practice, but especially so when our hearts are downcast and struggling for hope. As we give careful and intentional thought to the Lord’s character, His past work, and His present nearness, we are then moved to praise Him and tell other’s about the hope we have in Him. The best news is that we don’t have to muster up the words on our own, the psalmists help us by reminding us of our Lord’s charactor;
· He satisfies the desires of every living thing.
· He is righteous in all His ways
· He is loving towards all He has made.
· He is near to all who call on Him, He hears their cry and saves them.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 145
The psalmist begins by inviting us as a community to sing to our God in humble worship. For He is the rock of our salvation, the One who has formed this earth, the One who made us and takes care of us. And then the psalmist reminds us of the choice before us – to enter God’s rest or harden our hearts towards Him. Those referenced in this psalm saw God’s work, they were given reason to trust Him, and yet because of their unbelief they did not enter the rest of the Promised land. The author of Hebrews gives us additional understanding of the connection between a heart’s worship, entering the Lord’s rest, and the warning against unbelief. (See Hebrews 3-4) If we are thinking people, we have to ask, what does it mean to enter the Lord’s rest with a heart of worship in the midst of our grief and heartache? We know that things are not as they should be with the brokenness of this world, the sins in our own hearts, and the temptations towards unbelief. The answer is found in the gospel – in Jesus who has overcome, and who carries us through. We can rest in the hope of His promise and the truth of His nearness. He will not leave us or forsake us. Let us worship Him as the source of our comfort and our joy, and find rest in His sufficiency.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 95 with Hebrews 3-4
"Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
So begins our next Psalm in our summer series. The Psalmist reminds us of so many ways our God is good to us. Let us honor and praise Him as we meditate on the words of Psalm 103.
At our Vacation Bible Week we learned that Jesus is our true North! When we wonder, feel alone or powerless, when we need hope or help, we can trust Jesus! Join us in celebrating all the ways Jesus has shown Himself trustworthy and deepen your understanding of these foundational truths through our review of select stories found in the book of Matthew!
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Matthew 6:25-33; 8:5-13; 18:12-14; and 28:16-20
To identify with the Lord's position as my Shepherd, I must also identify with my position as His sheep; needy, foolish, and dependant. We are creatures full of desires and needs and no amount of our own striving, our own thinking, or our own providing will ever truly satisfy. This Psalm has brought an abundance of comfort over the centuries to people suffering, struggling, and muddling through lives full of hardship, trouble, and day to day uncertainty. We are not left alone in our struggle, we have a Shepherd who draws near to us, guides us, protects us, and provides for us.
With Jesus as our Shepherd, every need we have is met through His loving care.
Prepare for this week's teaching by reading through Psalm 23, pondering all the implications of the Lord being our Shepherd.
Oh to see God's ways, His salvation, and His praises spread throughout all the earth. What a glorious thing that would be!
The psalmist opens with words that ring familiar to the Aaronic blessing;
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." --Numbers 6:24-26
Continuing with a call for global praise; "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" --Psalm 67:3
One doesn't have to go far to encounter all the peoples praising and worshiping something else instead of God. Even us, at times, will attend church seeking other things instead of the worship of Jesus. Let us meditate on the words of this psalm, praying for our hearts to be in tune with this song of praise even while we wait on the world to join in. May our lives be given to helping others see God's worth and give to God alone all glory, honor and praise!
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 67
I once read a poem titled; Jesus Volta. While finding the poem to be clear, by not realizing it was a Sonnet nor remembering what the term Volta meant, it was difficult for me to truly understand it. The term Volta describes the turning point in a sonnet. Just that information alone even makes the title more clear!
Why all this talk about poetry? Over the next 15 weeks we will be moving into a new sermon series on the Psalms, the poetry and songbook of the Bible. In this book you will find a wide variety of structure, subject, and emotions: Joy, triumph, peace, praise, worship, war, distress, judgment, and, lament, along with prophecy of the Messiah – Jesus!
Poetry is a style of writing, often using an economy of words and cadence and rhyming scheme. Poems put to music are what we call hymns and songs. Our understanding and application of this rich and meaningful book can give us words for our emotions and deepen our relationship with Jesus.
Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalms 1-2
Timothy was raised by a mother and grandmother whose faith in Jesus was sincere. (2 timothy 1:5) He was privileged to travel with Paul on his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys learning and being mentored in living a life devoted to the Gospel of Jesus. Paul gives us a glimpse into Timothy’s character when he says in his letter to the Philippians;” For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” Philippians 2:19-24
Timothy was tasked with leading the church in Ephesus and Paul’s letter to Timothy gives us a glimpse of what he was dealing with in carrying out that duty. Paul councils him to be diligent to watch your life and doctrine closely, to be courageous in your commitment to the Gospel of Jesus, to flee from the love of money and pursue contentment, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. (1 Timothy 4:15, 2 Timothy 1&2)
The Hero of this story is God who through his faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit gave Timothy power to carry out his leadership. Through his time serving alongside Paul and Paul’s pastoral letters of encouragement, Jesus gave Timothy training, fellowship and support.
We need help and courage to commit to the Gospel of Jesus, fulfilling whatever duty Jesus has placed before us. Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit, the Bible, Pastors, and fellow believers to help us watch our own lives and doctrines closely, pursuing contentment, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, young men of nobility from the tribe of Judah, had been taken captive when Babylon conquered Israel. They had studied for 3 years in the king's school alongside Daniel; "to these 4 young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning" ....to the king they were found superior to all others; "ten times better than all the magicians, and enchanters in his whole kingdom." (1:17, 20) They rose to high levels of government in Babylon, set as administrators over the province of Babylon. As captives in a pagan land, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's ability to trust in God and obedience to worship and serve Him only is remarkable to be sure.
The hero of this story is God, who miraculously protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the king’s wrath and punishment of death by fiery furnace. God had been with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, giving them wisdom and courage as they navigated life in Babylon’s culture and false religion.
It is challenging to trust God and worship Him only when we are surrounded by a culture who neither acknowledges God nor honors our commitment to Him. We may never face such brutal consequences for our loyalty to God, but like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's we need Jesus to help us cultivate wisdom in navigating our current culture and to grow our trust in and love for Him. Jesus is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy! To Him be all glory! (Jude 24-25)
Jonah, a prophet to the 10 northern tribes of Israel, lived in a time of relative peace as Syria & Assyria were weakening and of spiritual poverty where worship was ritualistic and increasingly idolatrous. He was sent to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria: infamous for its cruelty and an historical nemesis of both Israel and Judah.
The hero of this story is God who cared about a pagan, violent people enough to send one of His prophets to call them to repentance. God also cared for Jonah personally, pursuing him when he ran away, providing rescue in his disobedience and softening to his hardened heart. God forgave the wicked Ninevites when they repented and met with Jonah in his anger about it to inform his perspective.
We too struggle with anger over God's mercy on others and justice towards us. We need God's pursuit of our hearts and perspective in our attitudes. Jesus helps us obey especially when what He's asking of us seems unreasonable and unjust. He gives us His salvation and His Holy Spirit when we repent and turn to Him. He softens our hearts towards others as we grow in knowledge of His character and priorities.
Elisha was a prophet in Israel and continued the work Elijah had begun of ridding the land of Baal worship and turning hearts back to God. As God's prophet, Elisha He was used by God throughout the land, performing miracles, helping kings, and giving God's warnings. Elisha knew God, His power, His enabling, and His protection. When the Syrian army surrounded Elisha to capture him, Elisha prayed that his servant's eyes would be opened to see God's protection and that the army's eyes would be blinded to Elisha's identity and that is what God did!
The hero of this story is God who gives both sight and blindness, protection and power and answers the prayers of His servant Elisha. The reality of God's work in this world exists whether we can see it or not! Like Elisha's servant, we often can see the danger or trouble surrounding us, but are unaware of God's protection, deliverance, and presence surrounding us too. We need God to open our eyes so that we can have our perspectives aligned with what is real beyond what we can physically see. Jesus helps us recognize God's power and presence in our lives, enabling us to trust Him with the challenges we face.
When Gideon lived in Israel life was very hard. The armies and people around them took all their food, and his own people worshipped other gods instead of the One True God who had delivered them, brought them from Egypt, settled them in the land and provided for them. Gideon received a direct assignment from God to deliver the people from these armies and restore their worship to God alone. Gideon, though fearful and unsure, was tasked with standing strong against his people’s anger when he tore down the alter of Bael, and with leading a small group of men couragously into battle against the large Mideonite army.
The hero of this story is God who was faithful and kind to Gideon and merciful to the people who had turned away from Him. God's instructions, plan, and action proved that it was God who gained the victory and God alone who deserved the glory. God relates to Gideon personally, assuring him that they are not abandoned and that God is still in fact with them. God gives Gideon confidence to obey these hard tasks through many reassurances of His power and presence.
We can wonder if God is really with us, especially when we just aren’t seeing evidence of His presence. Standing for Jesus can be difficult as we face rejection from those who would rather worship other gods. God is so kind to reassure us of His presence and power with us, giving us confidence to follow Him and to help others to do the same.
Solomon was given a very big and important job as King. On his own, Solomon did not have what he needed to be a good King. One day he went to where the tabernacle was to worship God. God appeared to him there and Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge so he could be a good king. The Hero of this story is God who was pleased with Solomon’s request and gave Solomon the wisdom he asked for. God also gave Solomon great knowledge and wealth. Solomon was wise about lots of things, about plants and animals, business and running a kingdom. But Solomon did not always Love God first and use his wisdom to honor God. When Solomon used his wisdom to make himself great and he turned from God and worshipped idols, God was gracious and did not take away the kingdom. God told Solomon his heart was divided and reminded him to worship and love God first.
It can be hard to use the gifts God has given us to honor God, and it can be hard to love God above all things – especially when He gives us so many good things! God is gracious to help us with our own divided hearts. He helps us to seek Him first and to grow to love Him more.
On the edge of the promised land, when the ten spies rallied the people towards discouragement, Joshua and Caleb spoke back with truth about God’s faithfulness and God’s power. They tried to turn the people away from fear and help them choose to trust. It didn’t work and all the people rebelled, wanting to kill Caleb and Joshua. In spite of all the Lord had done, the majority of the people did not trust their God. The hero of this story is God, who was faithful to an unfaithful people and protected Caleb and Joshua. The people had experienced God’s care from the moment the nation of Israel left Egypt and all through the desert. They were among those led by God’s visual presence through the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. God had defeated enemies before them, provided food and water for them, and given them His promise to bring them to a good land flowing with milk and honey. When the people rebelled against God and tried to harm Joshua and Caleb, He came to their defense in His overwhelming glory!
It can be hard to do what God wants when others don’t understand. God is faithful to defend us and equip us to face rejection. God always shows up and we can trust Him.
Sarah’s life was full of waiting and confusion mixed with adventure and trust. In the midst of her waiting she had moments of great faith and great doubt, she laughed in disbelief at God’s ability to keep His promise and laughed with faith and joy when God kept it and gave her a son!
The Hero of this story is God who protected His special promise to Abraham and Sarah when their fear got them into trouble. There is no perfectly faithful human, only a perfectly faithful God. God has the power to do the impossible, nothing is beyond His ability to accomplish and He always keeps His promises! This is the foundation and source of our hope!
It can be hard to trust God when we are waiting on a promise. God is faithful to keep all His promises and to intervene when we are going the wrong way. He helps us to trust, enables us to wait, and meets us in our fears and doubts.
The Bible is full of stories, and every story tells us something about God and His character. In 1 Kings 18-19 we see that God helps Elijah through ups and downs, in Jonah we learn how God shows compassion to the people of Nineveh. Jesus’ work on the cross shows us God’s justice and His great love for us. (John 18-20). In the book of Acts we see how far and wide God’s love and reach goes – all people of all nations are invited into relationship with God through Jesus. When Paul brings this good news to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony, a businesswoman named Lydia is the first to believe and her home becomes one of the first churches. (Acts 16:11-15)
Join us this week as we uncover truths about our Amazing God through these varied stories.
The Bible is full of stories, and every story tells us something about God and His character. In 1 Kings 18-19 we see that God helps Elijah through ups and downs, in Jonah we learn how God shows compassion to the people of Nineveh. Jesus’ work on the cross shows us God’s justice and His great love for us. (John 18-20). In the book of Acts we see how far and wide God’s love and reach goes – all people of all nations are invited into relationship with God through Jesus. When Paul brings this good news to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony, a businesswoman named Lydia is the first to believe and her home becomes one of the first churches. (Acts 16:11-15)
Join us this week as we uncover truths about our Amazing God through these varied stories.
Throughout life, we find ourselves in seasons of getting well, getting strong, or getting going as sent ones living on mission. Healing unfolds as we are transformed in our heart, mind, and soul by the love and saving Grace of Jesus. We are strengthened when the various parts of Christ’s body work together building up His people and His church. As brothers and sisters in Christ we are given the privilege of going into the world as participants with Christ in His work of healing, strength, and reconciliation. This is how we as a church know Christ and make Him known.
Join us as we dive into how Jesus is at work to heal, strengthen, and equip us for His glory and our good.
Prepare for the message by reading: Luke 4:16:21, Eph 2:1-7, Rom 12:2, Col 3:13, 1 Tim 4:7-8, Phil 2:12-13, Eph 2:8-10, Matt 28:18-20
This final chapter in John is the account of Jesus’ 3rd appearance to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. The scene begins with a miracle that mirrors the way He called the first disciples: Simon (Peter), James, and John. (Luke 5:1-11) Then we move to a gathering around a fire and a conversation with Peter that feels a similar to another recent time Peter sat at a fire (John 18:15-27). We end the book with an intimate conversation between Peter and Jesus alongside John’s final summary of all he has told us.
Be encouraged with us by Jesus’ personal, specific, and restorative action and conversation with His closest friends. Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 21:1-25 with Luke 5:1-11 & John 18:15-27.
The empty tomb, what did it mean? John tells us that they didn’t yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus would raise from the dead – rather they seem to think Jesus is still dead and his body is now missing. Jesus had told the disciples at least twice (Matthew 16:21 &17:23) that he would die, be buried and on the 3rd day be raised. When John enters the empty tomb and sees the grave clothes lying there, he believed. The rest continue to look for Jesus’ body. Jesus could have left them all to put the pieces together on their own. But He doesn’t. First, He talks with Mary and helps her understand. Then He visits the disciples and helps them understand (except for Thomas who wasn’t there at the time). Then He visits the disciples again and helps Thomas understand.
Grow in your own understanding of the resurrection of Christ and prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 20.
After Pilate’s attempts to satisfy the crowds by punishing Him, he presents Jesus to the crowd beaten, bloody, with a purple robe and crown of thorns. The crowd is not satisfied, and although Pilate has a sense of fear (vs.8) his fear of Rome is stronger as he hands Jesus over to be crucified.
The manner and certainty of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection are essential components to the Christian faith. John’s motive for writing is so that we will believe and the details he includes in this chapter lead us there. Oh what a Savior!
“Many a crown has been secured by blood, and so is this, but it is his own blood; many a throne has been established by suffering, and so is this, but he himself bears the pain.” – Spurgeon
Prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 19.
Jesus and His disciples cross the Kidron valley and enter an olive grove. Thus begins Jesus last moments with his disciples as He is arrested, taken before Annas, the High Priest Caiaphas, and finally He stands before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. As you read through John’s account of these moments, take note of how Jesus interacts with the various groups he encounters and what that reveals to us about our King.
Prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 18.
In the garden, Jesus prays -these 5 words hold such weight and significance. We are invited into this intimate conversation between our Savior and His Father as He prepares for the cross. If we want to know the heart of Jesus, this chapter is where to look. He prays for unity, He prays for joy, He asks for protection, all for our good and God’s glory. The One who set the stars in the sky, created the solar eclipses, the great blue whale and the ladybug, invites us to know Him, to be known by Him and calls us friend. Oh what a Savior, isn’t He wonderful!!
Prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 17.
Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution so they aren’t surprised and stumbled by it when it comes. He tells them about the work of the Holy Spirit made available to them by His leaving. They will soon weep and mourn while the world rejoices, but their grief will turn to joy. It seems impossible and perplexing that everything that will soon happen could turn out in any positive way. Jesus arrested? His ministry, healing, and teaching stopped? Him beaten, mocked, and unjustly sentenced? His crucifixion? No human power is capable of such a thing. Only God has the ability to turn evil on its head and bring about life from death, good from suffering, joy from grief.
Marvel with us at Jesus’ words as you prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 16.
Springtime in Colorado often brings with it wind that blows branches off of our trees. Even if you place that branch into a vase of water, the blooms may open and live for a time, but eventually that branch will die. This is a picture of complete dependency on another source for life. What does Jesus mean when He compares himself to a vine and us to branches? What does it mean to abide, or remain, in Him? To abide, or remain, in His love? How do we do this? What is the outcome when we do?
As you prepare for this week’s teaching by reading John 15:1-27, bring these questions into your study and join us on Sunday as we seek to understand the answers.
Returning to our John study, we will pick up in the second half of chapter 14. Jesus is talking with the 11 remaining disciples (Judas has left to betray Him), giving them words of hope, instruction, and comfort. He promises to send the Holy Spirit, a helper who will teach them and remind them of everything Jesus has said to them. He promises that because He lives, they also will live. He connects obedience to Him with love for Him. All these things Jesus tells His disciples to prepare them for what is to come, so that when everything happens, they will know where Jesus is and believe!
Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 14:15-31
The psalmist pleads; "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Paul urges his beloved church to remember the gospel he preached, which they received and upon which they have taken their stand. While we walk this earth, where can we turn when we get bogged down with the weight of our sin, become discouraged by relentless circumstances, or forget the implications Christ's resurrection has on our every day? The power and love He displayed in securing our future through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead fuel a joy, strength and endurance unlike any other thing!
Join with us as we remember and rejoice over our Risen Savior, Lord, Overcoming King, and Faithful Friend!
Our Grace Airways Children participated in our Easter Morning Worship with a song, dance and praise to our Risen King!
Holy Week is a week set apart for deepening our grasp of Jesus’ work on the cross and resurrection from the dead. On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus’ entering Jerusalem to shouts of Hosannah, riding on a colt to signify a king coming in peace. Prepare for this week’s message by reflecting on Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, & John 12:12-19
Download our Holy Week Devotional to enhance your understanding and celebration of Jesus' work of salvation for us!
John gives us the gift of listening into Jesus’ conversation with the 11 remaining disciples after Judas has left to betray Him. Jesus’ knows His hour has come and things are going to get excruciatingly hard, not just for Him, but also for those who love and follow Him. What a beautiful way to begin these last instructions – trust in God, trust also in Me! The disciples ask questions and Jesus answers them by pointing back to who He is and inviting them to believe all they have heard and seen.
Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 14:1-14
John provides more details to the passion week than the synoptic gospels, giving us glimpses into intimate interactions of Jesus. Headed to the cross, Jesus loves his followers to the end and shows them the full extent of that love. He washes feet, he lets them know what to expect, he warns them about their own weaknesses and failings, he prays for them. John provides more details to the passion week than the synoptic gospels, giving us glimpses into intimate interactions of Jesus. Headed to the cross, Jesus loves his followers to the end and shows them the full extent of that love. He washes feet, he lets them know what to expect, he warns them about their own weaknesses and failings, he prays for them.
Prepare for this week’s message by reflecting on the events in John 13 and how Jesus is loving people well.
In the very first chapter, John says this about Jesus; “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:4-5, 9-12)
We see this playing out in John 12 – Even after all the evidence Jesus has given regarding who He is and why He came, many do not believe and many who do believe are afraid to confess their faith. And yet, Jesus doesn’t walk away, but continues to respond with the truth that no one need stay in darkness because Light has come!
Join us Sunday as we study these words in John 12:37-50
Jesus enters Jerusalem to crowds welcoming Him as King. While, His disciples aren’t putting together the timeline or what is happening, Jesus knows where things are headed. Some Greeks from out of town approach Jesus’ disciples with a request to see Him, and he responds with talk of wheat, death, service and glory. Remember John’s purpose in writing this gospel – that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ, and by believing have Life in His name.
Grow in understanding Jesus’ identity and what it means to follow him with us on Sunday as we study John 12:12-36
Jesus’ last week is near. After raising Lazarus from the dead He had withdrawn to ‘a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where He stayed with His disciples.’ (John 11:54). Now he arrives in Bethany and attends a dinner with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The dinner is given to honor Jesus and Mary does so in a remarkably humble and extravagant way by pouring expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wiping His feet with her hair.
In Luke 10:39, we see Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet to learn from Him. In John 11:32, we witness Mary falling at Jesus’ feet in grief and being led to surrender. Here we see Mary anointing Jesus’ feet to exalt Him.
Join us Sunday as we study this section of John that marks the beginning of Jesus’ last days before the cross. Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 12:1-10.
Jesus’ friend is sick, yet He waits to go and as a result arrives too late to save his life. Lazarus has died and been buried, and the family is grieving. These are close friends; they know what Jesus has done for strangers. He’s performed so many miracles at this point of his ministry, He’s healed many sick, restored sight to the blind and walking to the lame. Why does He delay? We like to tie this passage up in a bow with words of God’s perfect timing and bigger plan. That is absolutely true, but these friends are living in the present and their why is a poignant why.
Jesus’ response to both sisters and to Lazarus reveals a God who both weeps with compassion and is angry about death and the suffering it brings. He is a God who responds individually and personally. He is the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Jesus will live, even though he dies.
Do you believe this?
Take your why to Jesus – He comforts like no other.
To prepare for this week’s message read and reflect upon John chapter 11
Jesus is in Jerusalem during Hanukkah walking in the temple when the Jews ask Him; “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
This begins another conversation with Jesus explaining that He has told them plainly and that those who are ‘His sheep’ listen, follow, and cannot ever be snatched away from His hand.
The Jews understand Jesus’ direct claim to be God and determine to execute judgement upon Him for blasphemy. If Jesus wasn’t who He claimed to be, their judgement would be just. But Jesus is who He claims to be.
To prepare for this week’s message read and reflect upon John 10:22-42
Having just pointed out their blindness, Jesus continues his conversation with the Pharisees using word-pictures to explain who He is and who they are. They don’t understand what He’s telling them so He explains further. The religious leader’s treatment of the man born blind stands in stark contrast to Jesus’ demonstration of God’s care, His heart, and His expectations of those who have been given the job of helping people to know God. Jesus’ words drive home the truth about what it means to be loved, protected, and cared for like a shepherd cares for his sheep.
To prepare for this week’s message, spend time pondering Jesus words found in John 10:1-21
What does it take to see? The man who was born blind knew he couldn’t see and received the light that was given to him – both in physical healing and in seeing Jesus as Savior and Lord. In contrast, the pharisees did not admit their spiritual blindness. Although they were talking often with the Light of the world and witnessing evidence of Him as their Messiah, they refused to see.
Let us open our hearts to the Light of the World this Sunday through our study of John’s gospel. Prepare for the message by reading John chapter 9.
In this next section of John, Jesus converses back and forth with the Pharisees about His identity. The conversation is bookended by these two statements:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
The pharisees could not see Who was standing before them, not because the Light of Jesus had failed to shine but because they were blind. We too must determine how we will respond to who Jesus actually is rather than who we assume Him to be.
Join us this week as we study Jesus’ testimony recorded for us John 8:12-59.
There is no debate in this passage over what is sin, or necessarily who the sinners are. The debate is what Jesus has to say about it. His response is remarkable in that He is the only one present without sin and therefore the right to both judge and condemn.
The Bible says this about sin, condemnation and Jesus;
-There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
-But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
-Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.
-For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Let us receive Jesus’ forgiveness with gratitude and go and sin no more!
Prepare for this week’s message by reviewing John 8:1-11 with Romans 3:22-24, 6:22-23, 8:1 and John 3:16-17.
With all the presents opened and food eaten, are you finding yourself unsatisfied? Do you sense something missing, or empty? Even with the best of Christmas celebrations, there is still a joy that is only found in a relationship with Jesus. He promises to fill those who hunger and thirst with Himself – a quenching like no other!
Join us Sunday as we pick back up in our study of the Gospel of John. We will hear Jesus’ teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the most popular festivals of the Jewish year. At this feast, the priests would pour out water in memory of the water that God brought out of the rock when the people were wandering through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. It is here at this feast that Jesus invites anyone who is thirsty to come to Him and drink. He is helping the people understand who He is as their promised Messiah so that they will believe in Him and receive from Him life and satisfaction!
The Celebration of Christmas refocuses us on real joy which is found in our experience of God’s grace. This Joy comes from a settled assurance that God loves me, is with me, and has forgiven me. Knowing that He is in control of all the details of my life and is working in everything for my good and His glory gives our hearts peace. No matter what lies in the days ahead - God with us - can be our constant Joy, enabling us to have ourselves a "Merry Little Christmas!"
Prepare for this week’s message by reading Luke 2:8-14 with Psalm 16:11, John 15:9-17, 1 Peter 3-9
Celebrating Christmas is significant because it refocuses our hearts and minds on what is most important—loving people like Jesus loved us. While Christmas trees, lights, presents, fun, food, gifts, etc. make something a celebration or festival, and can enhance our Christmas celebration—they are not essential for celebrating Jesus. The true Christmas Spirit is being rooted in the sacrifice of Jesus coming to earth and becoming human—for us—and living/loving out of that truth. The attitude of love, self-sacrifice, and self-giving mirror Emmanuel—God with us. As we focus on the simple parts of Christ’s coming; the little town, the stable, Almighty God taking on flesh, remember that God did all of those things with intention and purpose. He is showing us what Love looks like and how far Love is willing to go for the sake of another. No matter how your December has been or what lies ahead for you, in all things the truth of God’s love for you is secure. To Him be all glory and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen!
Christmas reminds us of the peace we have through our relationship with Jesus. There are 2 types of peace and both are offered to us; the absence of conflict (in Christ, we are no longer enemies of God) and the deep contentment of soul that comes from knowing Christ and being known by Him.
In our culture, we celebrate events and people that are important to us-birthdays, sporting events, holidays, etc. The Jewish feasts in the Bible were reminders of Who God Is and What He Had Done. Passover celebrated God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, The Feast of Tabernacles celebrated God’s faithful provision during the desert wanderings. Hanukkah is a celebration of God’s miraculous provision to keep the temple Menorah lit for 8 days with only 1 days provision of oil. Christmas is our reminder of God’s loving and giving character– celebrating Jesus coming to earth as a baby to usher in God’s plan of salvation! Celebrating who God is and what He has done helps to tune and re-tune our hearts to who we are, whose we are, and what is truly important!
Join us this advent season as we learn what it means to have ourselves a “Merry Little Christmas” We'll begin our Advent Series this Sunday November, 26th, focusing on The Reason for the Season!
Jesus goes in secret to the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a celebration of God’s provision of food and protection during their 40 years of wandering in the desert on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. He goes in secret because He knows that the Jewish leaders are angry and wanting to kill Him for healing on the Sabbath and claiming to be God. Once there, Jesus teaches in the temple courts and the people are amazed. Jesus continues to invite all He encounters to believe the truth about themselves and the truth about who He is and why He came.
“Jesus already had in mind what He was going to do.”
Jesus sees the crowds, He knows what they are after, and because of His great love and mercy intentionally leads them beyond the temporal and into the eternal. The feeding of the 5,000 with a small boys lunch is only a small portion of the bigger picture John is walking us through. Just as we’ve seen in the previous passages, step by step, with actions and then with words, Jesus leads the people to see who He is – God in the flesh, the promised Messiah, here to do His Father’s will. As He speaks to the heart of things, many find His teachings to be too hard and walk away.
It is true, Jesus teachings are hard, and we too face the choice to follow or turn away. Let us believe and confidently trust Him as who He really is – the Holy One of God, our Savior, our Lord. He alone has the words of eternal life. He is our only hope. He is worthy of our allegiance.
He’d been disabled for 38 years. “Do you want to get well?” Jesus asked him. Upon Jesus’ word – immediately the man is healed!
The problem was, Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath-a day set apart for worship and rest, a day to refrain from work, so the Jews were angry with him for breaking God’s law. Here we see God in the flesh revealing a lot to us about who He is with both His actions and His words. Let’s seek to rightly handle God’s word, the Bible and take to heart the warnings and the encouragements given so that we experience life as God intended.
“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” - Jesus- John 5:39
Prepare for this week’s message by taking in the whole scene of the event recorded in John 5:1-46
Jesus, the One who spoke the universe into existence, confined Himself to time and space when He walked upon the earth. So many details in this week’s reading reveal poignant things about our Savior! He rests his body. He spends His precious time talking one-on-one. And while remarkable in and of itself, this is even more so because of the low cultural status of the woman who met Him at the well. And then there are the words He spoke – words of truth and of comfort. Words that brought life! This woman Jesus’ encountered, as He rested on the way to Galilee, would forever be changed!
John the Baptist’s disciples were jealous for him. He had been preparing the way for Jesus, calling on people to repent and be baptized – and now Jesus was baptizing too and many were following Him instead of John. This was not a problem for John, instead he was overjoyed – for his purpose was always to point people to Jesus! Now that Jesus was here, John knew that he was meant to decrease in prominence allowing Jesus to increase in importance.
Nicodemus was an educated man and as a member of the Jewish ruling council he was a man of authority in Jerusalem. He seeks Jesus out at night to talk with Him. Their discourse contains one of the most well-known verses of scripture – John 3:16 – as Jesus privately instructs Nicodemus in the great mystery of the Gospel, its implications, and Nicodemus’ need to respond personally.
At a wedding in Cana, Jesus openly demonstrates a power over creation that only its Creator could have. John records; "What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory..." this first sign reveals a love and concern for everyday people in their celebration.
The next thing John records for us is Jesus' open demonstration
of His just anger at those who were corrupting God's house of worship with
their greed and oppression. Jesus reveals a love and concern for God's people
in their worship of Him.
As Jesus began his public ministry, John the Baptist introduced Him by declaring; “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In one sentence he has summarized the reason Jesus came – to deal with mankind’s sin problem through His death on the cross.
As He travels throughout the region, Jesus begins to call men to follow him. These men will become Jesus’ disciples, they will know Him intimately and join Him in His ministry and mission.
Jesus, who existed before all of time, came into a world immersed in sin and opposition to God. Though the world does not understand or appreciate or absorb the Light Jesus brings, it cannot overpower it!
Out of the super-abundance of God’s grace and truth, we have received grace upon grace, favor upon favor, gift heaped upon gift in the person and work of Jesus Christ!
Prepare for this week’s message by reading through and meditating on John 1:1-18.
Verses: Philippians 3:7-11, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Main Point: We exist to know Christ and make Him known.
Questions:
What impacted you most from this week’s message? What challenged you or encouraged you? Restate the main point above in your own words. What is wonderful and exciting about the truths in this statement? What is challenging? Read Philippians 3:7-9. How did Paul view his previous religious accomplishments in light of knowing Jesus? (See Philippians 3:4-6 for context.) Why did he describe them this way? What does righteousness mean in this passage? How is a person is made righteous? Where does this righteousness come from? Read Philippians 3:10-11. What was Paul’s desire in these verses? What does knowing God look like to Paul? How is his perspective helpful in understanding what our relationship with God can be like? 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Trusting in Jesus changes a person from the inside out. What changes did Paul write about in these verses? What does it mean that anyone in Christ is a new creation? What does it mean to be reconciled? How did Jesus reconcile people to God? What role do Christians have in reconciliation? What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ? How are you growing in your relationship with God and making Him known to the people around you? What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Sermon Questions: Our Story Week 13 – Paul (September 3, 2023)
Verses: Philippians 3:5-6, Acts 7:54-8:3, Acts 9:1-22, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Philippians 3:7-10
Main Point: God is mighty to save and graceful to pursue.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from this message? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of Paul? 2. What details do you know about Paul’s life? Which details seem the most important to you? 3. Read Philippians 3:5-6. How did Paul describe his religious background? Which things was he born into, and which things did he pursue? How could have Paul’s background created a barrier to following Jesus? 4. Read Acts 7:54-8:3. What was Saul’s role at the Stephen’s stoning. What happened after Stephen was martyred? Describe Saul’s persecution of the early church? 5. Read Acts 9:1-22. What was Saul doing at the beginning of this passage? How did the Lord get his attention? What did Jesus say to Saul? What would you have felt if you were in Saul’s place? 6. What was Ananias’ response to being told to pray for Saul? What did the Lord tell Ananias about Saul? After his conversion, what did Paul do? What did the people say about him? 7. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul was called to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul would suffer for the Jesus. Describe the sufferings Paul listed in these verses? 8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. In these verses Paul described the Gospel message and how it impacted him. How would you describe the Gospel from these verses? What impact did it have on Paul? 9. Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17. How did Paul describe himself in these verses? How did God’s grace change him? How do these verses give us hope that anyone can trust in Jesus and experience his grace? 10. Read Philippians 3:7-10. This is the continuation of the verses you read above. What did Paul desire above all else? Why is knowing God so important? 11. What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: The transformational love of Jesus softens and shapes the heart of His followers.Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of John? What details do you know about John’s life? Which details seem the most important to you? Read Mark 3:13-19. What name did Jesus give to James and John? What does it reveal about their personalities when they started following Jesus? Read Mark 10:35-45. What did James and John ask Jesus for? What was his response? What did the cup and baptism represent? How would James and John share in these things? Why were the other disciples angry with James and John? How did Jesus use this conflict to teach His disciples about the nature of servant leadership? Read Luke 9:51-56. How did the Jews and the Samaritans get along? How was this relationship reflected in James and John’s words? Why did Jesus rebuke them? Read Acts 8:14-17. How did things come full circle for John and the Samaritans? How is this a demonstration of the power of the Gospel? Read 1 John 3:16-18 and 4:7-12. What did John say about love in these passages? What connections did John make between being loved by God and loving others? How should the love of God shape our love for others? What similarities do you see in Jesus’ teaching and the writings of John? (See John 13:34-35 and John 15:9-17) What things did you learn about God through the life of John? How has God challenged you to love Him and the people around you more through this message? What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Sermon Questions: Our Story Week 11 – Peter (August 20, 2023)
Verses: John 1:40-42, Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 14:22-33, Matthew 16:13-27, Luke 22:31-34, Luke 22:54-62, John 21:1-19, Acts 2:1-47
Main Point: God uses our failures to grow us when we respond in love and trust.
Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of Peter? What details do you know about Peter’s life? Which details seem the most important to you? Read John 1:40-42. What happened in these verses? What is significant about Jesus giving Simon the new name Peter? Read Luke 5:1-11. What do you learn about Jesus and Peter from these verses? What was Jesus doing when he told Simon to let down his nets? Why was Simon reluctant to let down his nets? How did Jesus get Simon’s attention through this miracle? What was Simon’s reaction? What did Jesus call Simon to do? Read Matthew 14:22-33. Describe the setting of this section of scripture? How did the men feel when they saw a man walking towards them on the water? What did Jesus say, and how did Peter respond? What was Jesus’ response to Peter’s lack of faith? How did the people aboard the boat respond to Jesus? What does this account show us about Jesus and faith? Read Matthew 16:13-27. How did the people describe Jesus? How did Peter describe Jesus? What is the significance of this moment? Why did Peter try to rebuke Jesus? What was Jesus’ response? What does this tell us about Peter’s understanding of Jesus’ plan at that time? Read Luke 22:31-34. What is the context of these verses? What did Jesus tell Simon about his future? Why was this both difficult and hopeful? Read Luke 22:54-62. What happened in these verses? Why would Peter deny Jesus? What happened when Peter saw Jesus? Read John 21:1-19. How is this account similar to Peter’s first call to be a disciple in Luke 5:1-11? How did Peter respond to seeing Jesus? What did Jesus ask Peter? How can you see God’s grace at work in this passage? Think of a time when you have sinned and felt like God could never forgive you. How does this account give you hope in God’s amazing grace and forgiveness? Read Acts 2:1-47. What role did Peter play in the early church and at the day of Pentecost? How did God use him on that day? What things did you learn about Jesus through the life of Peter? Jesus called Peter and calls each one of us to follow Him. How can you answer that call in your life today? What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Verses: Luke Chapter 1
Main Point: Our call to trust in God is rooted in His unchanging character.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Mary? 2. What details do you know about Mary’s life? Which details seem the most important to you? 3. Read Luke 1:26-38. What details did Luke include about Mary in these verses? What do you notice most about Mary in her encounter with Gabriel? What does the angel say about God? 4. What did the angel Gabriel say about Jesus and the role that Mary would play in His birth? How did Mary respond to the angel? What did this reveal about her faith? 5. Read Luke 1:39-45. Why did it make sense for Mary to visit Elizabeth? How did Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) respond to Mary? How did the Holy Spirit work in these verses? 6. Why did Elizabeth call Mary blessed? How did Elizabeth refer to Mary’s baby? 7. Read Luke 1:46-56. What can we learn about Mary’s faith from her prayer? What do we learn about the character of God in this prayer? 8. Mary described God’s faithfulness and His provision for His people. How can an understanding of the unchanging character and faithfulness of God anchor a person’s trust in Him? 9. What would it look like for you to trust God the way Mary did? How is her faith and example to us? 10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Sermon Questions: Our Story Week 8 – Esther (August 6, 2023)
Verses: Esther chapters 1-10
Main Point: No matter how the situation may appear to us, God is faithfully working for our good.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Esther? 2. Read Esther Chapters 1-2. Who are the main people in these chapters? What happened between King Xerxes and Queen Vashti? What do we learn about Esther and Mordecai? 3. How do you see God working in these chapters? 4. Read Esther Chapters 3-5. How did Haman respond to Mordecai’s refusal to bow? How did this lead to the threat against all the Israelites? 5. Read Esther 4:12-16. What does Mordecai’s statement reveal about the character of God? What did Mordecai say about God orchestration of Esther’s position as queen? What did Esther say in response? 6. Read Esther 6-7. What happened in these chapters? What unexpected twists did Esther, Mordecai, and Haman experience? Did these things happen by coincidence? 7. How do you see God’s orchestration in these chapters? 8. Read Esther 8-10. How does the book of Esther conclude? Was this the way you thought it would turn out? 9. On a scale of 1-10, how much to you believe that God is working in the details of your life? Explain your answer. 10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Loving God provides clarity of purpose and courage to follow where He leads.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Elijah? 2. Read 1 Kings 17. Who was King Ahab? (See 1 Kings 16:29-33.) What does the author reveal about Elijah in this chapter? What is revealed about God and His character? 3. How did Elijah interact with the widow and her son? How did God take care of His prophet and His people? 4. Read 1 Kings 18. Describe the confrontations in this chapter. Look at verse 21. What was the issue that Elijah raised to the people of Israel? Is this an issue that still exists for followers of God? 5. How did the conflict between Elijah and the prophets of Baal go? What did God do to show Himself as greater than Baal? What happened to the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal? 6. Read 1 Kings 19. What is surprising about Elijah’s behavior after his confrontation with the prophets of Baal? What did Elijah ask God to do? What was God’s response? How did God care for Elijah until he is rested? 7. Describe the conversation between God and Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9-18. What would it have been like to be Elijah? How did God reassure Elijah? 8. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Walking with God means failing forward and experiencing God’s fellowship and forgiveness.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of David? 2. Read 1 Samuel 16. What happened to Saul that caused Samuel to anoint a new king? What does verse seven reveal about how God chose David? Why is the heart more important than the appearance? 3. What is David’s role in Saul’s palace? How is David described in verse 18? 4. Read 1 Samuel 17. What is happened in this chapter? Why wouldn’t anyone fight Goliath? What was at stake for the Israelite and Philistine armies? What was the reward for the solider that defeated Goliath? 5. What was David’s motivation in fighting Goliath? What was David’s confidence? 6. Read 2 Samuel 5. After many years of running from Saul, David eventually becomes King of a united Israel. What did David do shortly after becoming King? 7. Read 2 Samuel 6. Why is moving the Ark of the Covenant important? How did this show David’s heart for God? How did David celebrate as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem? 8. Read 2 Samuel 11-12. Describe the events in chapter 11. What choices did David make? What choices did Uriah make? What did God tell David through Nathan? What consequences did David’s actions have for his family? 9. Read Psalm 51. This Psalm is about David’s experiences related to Bathsheba. Describe David’s prayer in this Psalm. What did he ask for? What did he want from God? 10. Read Psalm 63. This Psalm shows David’s desire to know God intimately and personally. How did he describe his longing for God? How did he describe God’s love? (See verse 3.) 11. David is described as a man after God’s own heart. After hearing about his life, how can such a description be true? What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart? What would it look like for you to be person after God’s own heart? 12. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Verses: Ruth 1-4
Main Point: God's providential care for His people demonstrates His lovingkindness.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Ruth? Read Ruth Chapter 1. What was the situation at the beginning of the book of Ruth? Who were the main characters? What happened to the main character? How do you see God working in Naomi and Ruth’s friendship? How did Ruth express her commitment to Naomi and Naomi’s God? (See Ruth 1:16-18) Read Ruth Chapter 2. What does the writer of Ruth tell us about Boaz in this chapter? What examples of his character does the reader get from this text? How did God move in this chapter? What examples of God’s providential care are in this chapter? Read Ruth Chapter 3. What did Naomi tell Ruth to do in this chapter? Why was this a dangerous plan? How did Boaz respond to Ruth? What did Boaz commit to doing for Ruth? What did it mean to redeem Ruth? What stood in Boaz’s way? Read Ruth Chapter 4. What happened in the chapter? What was the result of Boaz redeeming Ruth. What do we learn about the child of Boaz and Ruth? Why is the genealogy in Ruth 4:16-22 important? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Sermon Questions: Our Story Week 5 – Deborah
Main Point: God will deliver His people in unexpected ways.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Deborah’s life? 2. Read Judges 4:1-3. What is the situation at the beginning of this chapter? How does this reflect the larger state of the nation of Israel in the book of Judges? 3. What people are introduced in these verses? Why did the people cry out to God? 4. Read Judges 4:4-12. How did God use Deborah in these verses? What was unique about Deborah? What was Barak’s response to God’s command spoken through Deborah? 5. Both sides gathered their forces for battle. Where does the battle take place? 6. Read Judges 4:14-24. What happened in the battle between Barak and Sisera? Where did Sisera run to escape Barak’s army? How does Jael greet him? 7. How did Jael take care of Sisera? How did this fulfill what Deborah said? Why was Jael an unlikely hero? 8. Read Judges 4:14-24. Judges chapter 5 is a poem about the events of chapter 4. What details does this chapter provide about Deborah? What details does this chapter provide about the battle? What details does this chapter provide about God? 9. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: God works through His people as they trust in Him.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Moses’ life? 2. Read Exodus 1. How did the dynamics shift between the time of Joseph to the time of the current Pharoah in this passage? What was Pharoah’s wicked plan for getting rid of the Hebrews? 3. Read Exodus 2. What were the circumstances that Moses was born into? What huge risk did his mother and sister take? How can you see God’s orchestration of events in this chapter? 4. How did Moses respond to the mistreatment of the Hebrew by the Egyptian? Why did he flee? 5. Read Exodus 3. Describe Moses’ encounter with God through the burning bush. How would you have reacted if you were in Moses’ place? What did God say to Moses? What was Moses’ response to God? 6. Read Exodus 7-11. In these chapters, God used Moses to confront Pharoah and demand that Pharoah let the Israelites go. How did Pharoah respond throughout the 10 plagues God sent? 7. What was the significance of the night of Passover? What is the connection with Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross? 8. Read Exodus 32. God made Covenant with the Israelites and gave them His law. He provided the law through Moses and gave him the instructions for the Tabernacle. What were the people doing while Moses was gone? How did Moses intercede with God for the Israelites? What happened when Moses came down the mountain? 9. Read Numbers 21:4-8. What happened in this passage? This is one of several places where the Israelites grumbled against God and Moses. How did God respond to their grumbling in this passage? 10. Read Deuteronomy 34. Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of his actions in Numbers 20:1-13. What happened in this chapter? How was Moses described in these verses? 11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Verses: Genesis 37:1-36, Genesis 39:1-47:31, 50:15-21
Main Point: Responding to adversity with trust and integrity honors God.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Joseph’s life. Read Genesis 37. What do you notice about Israel’s family dynamics in this chapter? What did Joseph dream about? Why did his family resent his dreams? What did his brothers do to him? What do you think Joseph might be feeling during this time? Read Genesis 39-41. Why did Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household? What temptation did he face? What did he say when he was tempted? (See Gen 39:8-10) How did Joseph display integrity in the face of adversity in chapter 39? What happened to Joseph in prison? How does his ability to interpret dreams get him out of prison? How old was Joseph when he was put in charge of Egypt? How did he respond to the impending drought? Read Genesis 42-47. How did Joseph get his brothers to bring whole family down to Egypt? Why was it so hard to get all of his brothers and father to come? What happened when Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. How did they respond? How did Joseph respond? (See Gen 45:1-15) Read Genesis 50:15-21. After Israel died, why were Joseph’s brothers afraid of him? What did Joseph say to reassure them? What do Joseph’s words reveal about his understanding of God’s sovereignty even in difficulty? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Through faith God gives us a new identity to live into. Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about the God’s character through the study of Jacob’s life. 2. Read Genesis 25:19-34. What were the circumstances surrounding Jacob and Esau’s birth? What is the significance of their names? 3. What did Jacob get his brother to do? Why was was the birthright so important? 4. Read Genesis 27. This is a tragic account of deception, favoritism, and broken relationships. What did Rebekah do to help Jacob? How did Esau react when he discovered he had lost his birthright? 5. How would you describe Jacob’s character at this point in the narrative? 6. Read Genesis 29:1-30:22. Who deceived Jacob in this section of the story? Under what circumstances did Jacob marry Rachel and Leah? 7. What was the relationship like between Jacob, Rachel, and Leah? Why were children so important? How did the names Leah gave her children change as she had more children? 8. Read Genesis 32:1-21. Why is Esau chasing Jacob? What is Jacob preparing to do? 9. Read Genesis 32:22-32. With whom was Jacob wrestling with? What is the outcome of the struggle? How was Jacob marked by this encounter? 10. What is the significance of Jacob’s name being changed to Israel? What does Israel mean? 11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Growing faith requires trusting God when we don’t understand.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Abraham’s life? Read Genesis 12. What promise did God make to Abram? How old was Abram? What kind of faith would it take to do what Abram did? Why did Abram lie to Pharoah about his relationship with Sarai? What does this show us about Abram? Read Genesis 15. In this chapter, God made a covenant with Abram, and promised him a male heir. What do we read about faith in Genesis 15:6? Why is this significant? What is symbolic about the ceremony that takes place in this chapter? What does this reveal about the Covenant God makes with Abram? Read Genesis 16. Abram and Sarai grew impatient and took matters into their own hands. What happened? What were the consequences of Abram having son with Hagar? Read Genesis 18:1-15. God fulfilled his promise to Abram and sent messengers to let him know. What did the messengers say? How did Abram and Sarai respond? Read Genesis 21:1-20. What happened when Isaac is born? How were Hagar and Ishmael treated? How did God respond to their situation? Read Genesis 22:1-19. What did God command Abraham to do? Why do you think God asked Abraham to do this? Read the story carefully. How would you have felt? What level of faith would it require for Abraham to do what God called him to do? What did Abraham think God was going to do? (See Hebrews 11:17-19.) How did God respond to Abraham’s faith? How did this incident change Abraham? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Questions: 1. What things come to mind in Paul’s proclamation of circumstances? How does this section connect with Philippians 4:4-9? 2. Read Philippians 3:4-14 Paul lists a series of accomplishments and points of pride but then says he considers them loss for the sake of Christ. What does that mean? 3. What has Paul not yet taken a hold of in verse 13? How does that motivate him to do the things that he’s instructing others and that he himself feels called towards? 4. What does Paul mean “forgetting what is behind”? How doing so help him to press forward towards his goal or vice versa? 5. What barrier to contentment is greatest in your life right now? Self, hardship, or materialism? How can Paul’s instruction inform your outlook or help in overcoming it? 6. Paul places the full weight of his contentment at the feet of Jesus. Why is this such an important part of contentment and how can we follow his example in our own lives? 7. How does Paul’s commentary on contentment, wealth, and possessions in 1 Timothy 6:6-19 compare to your own thoughts or situation? What can be learned from it? 8. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message? What part of how Paul defines contentment do you want to try this week?
Main Point: Contentment is active and rooted in trust and fulfillment in ChristQuestions: Read Philippians 4:4-9 Define contentment in your life. How do you view it? Is it a joyful assessment of reality, a choice to ignore hard or difficult things, a “settling” with what you have, or something else? What would you say has informed that understanding of contentment? (Family history, cultural standards, faith, etc.) What comes to mind when Paul says rejoice in verse 4? Do you often rejoice? Why or why not? What connection does Paul make between prayer and peace in verses 6-7? What elements of prayer does he present? Do you practice those elements of prayer? Is your prayer life oriented more around your circumstances, yourself, your creator, or a mix? What role do you think Paul’s call to action in verses 8-9 plays in contentment and rooting ourselves in Christ rather than “things” (circumstances, possessions, etc.)? What is something lovely, praiseworthy, or excellent that God has given you this week? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message? What part of how Paul defines contentment do you want to try this week?
Main Point: We will inherit an unshakable Kingdom.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character in the passage studied?2. Read Hebrews 12:25-29. What strikes you about this passage? What words do you notice? In your own words, what is the main message of these verses?3. What is the author of Hebrews calling his readers to do? How should we respond?4. Read Hebrews 12:25. What is the author warning the reader not to do? What comparison does he make? What happened when the people refused God speaking through Moses? What will happen when people refuse to listen to Jesus?5. Read Hebrews 12:26-27. God shook the Earth at Mt. Sinai and promises He will shake the Earth again. What is different about the final shaking?6. What things can be shaken and what things can’t be shaken? What perspective does this provide about the material world?7. Read Hebrews 12:28-29. What confidence do these verses give the follower of Christ? How are followers of Christ called to worship God? How do we live our lives in worship of God?8. What does it mean that “God is a consuming fire”? Does that change the way you understand the character of God?9. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Through the work of Jesus, we can approach God with joy and without fear.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouragedyou? What did you learn about the character of God in the passage studied?2. Read Hebrews 12:18-24. What are the two places being compared in these verses? Beyondthe physical locations, what other things are being compared in these verses?3. What words, feelings, and emotions are characteristic of Mount Sinai? What words, feelings,and emotions are characteristic of Mount Zion?4. Read Hebrews 12:18-21. What event is the author of Hebrews describing? (See Exodus 19-20 for reference.) Why are the people afraid?5. What does this passage communicate about the holiness of God? Why is understanding theholiness of God important to understanding God’s character?6. How does understanding God’s holiness help us to understand the significance of the sacrificeof Jesus on the cross? How does it help us to appreciate the grace of God?7. Read Hebrews 12:22-24. Describe the picture the author of Hebrews paints of the futureheavenly Jerusalem. Who will be there? How are they described?8. How is God described in these verses? How is Jesus described? What does it mean thatJesus is the mediator o the new covenant?9. How is the sacrifice of Jesus better than the sacrifice offered by Abel?10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Continue to grow to be like Jesus and help others to do the same.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you?2. Read Hebrews 12:14-17. What words and ideas stick out to you in these verses? Do you have any questions? What is the writer of these verses saying?3. Read Hebrews 12:14. What does it mean to make every effort to live in peace with everyone? What keeps us from being at peace with others? What does living in peace with everyone look like in your life? (See Romans 12:17-18.)4. If Christians are declared holy by faith in Jesus, what does it mean to make every effort to be holy? Why is a pursuit of holiness so important to our spiritual growth? (See 1 Peter 1:13-16 and Matthew 5:58.)5. Read Hebrews 12:15. What does it meant of fall short of the grace of God? How might people miss the grace of God? How do we know we have received God’s grace?6. Read Deuteronomy 29:18. How does this help us understand the bitter root that the author of Hebrews is writing about? What is the bitter root? What does the bitter root cause?7. Read Hebrews 12:16-17. How is Esau sexual immorality tied to his godlessness? How do his misplaced values lead to the bad decision he made? What does this situation reveal about choosing temporal comfort over eternal inheritance?8. What parallels is the author of Hebrews making between Esau and those people in the church that might potential abandon their claim to follow Jesus? What is the warning for those who would choose not to follow Jesus?9. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what
Main Point: Don’t give up. Live fully for God.Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Why is encouragement so important to make it through the hardships of life? Think of a time when you were encouraged during a hardship. What happened? How did it make you feel? How can encouragement change a person’s perspective on a situation? Read Hebrews 12:12. What is the “therefore” there for? (Read Hebrews 12:11 for context.) In a race what does it mean when runners drop their hands and their knees get weak? What does this tell us about the situation that the people in the book of Hebrews are facing? In this verse, the author of Hebrews is referring to Isaiah 35:3-4. Read these verses. How do these verses help us better understand Hebrews 12:12? Why is it important to be encouraged personally and encourage others with the truth? How does knowing that God is working even in hardships encourage us to keep persevering? Read Hebrews 12:13. The author of Hebrews starts by quoting Proverbs 4:26. Read Proverbs 4:25-27 for context. What does it mean to make level paths for your feet? Why is it important to remove obstacles to from your path when you are running? Following the metaphor, why is it vital to remove from our lives things that are damage to our faith? Name a few things specific things hinder or damage a Christian’s faith. What is the result of making level paths? How does this impact the individual and the community of faith? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Perspective fuels endurance.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about perspective and endurance?2. How does the example of a race help Christians to understand the way we live out our faith during the difficulties of life?3. Read Hebrews 12:1. What is the “Therefore” there for? How the writer of Hebrews connect this verse to the previous section? What does it mean that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses?4. What is the difference between getting rid of things in our lives that hinder faith, and sin that trips us up? Are there things that distract you from what is truly important in life?5. Read Hebrews 12:2. Human examples are important, but Jesus is our ultimate example. What does it mean that He is the pioneer and perfecter of faith?6. What does it mean that Jesus scorned the shame of the cross? What is the basis of Jesus’ joy that allowed him to endure the cross? How does this provide an example for Christ followers when we have trouble in life?7. Read Hebrews 12:3. Can you think of time in your journey with Christ when you felt weary, or you lost heart? What did that feel like? How does the example of Jesus provide perspective and strength in dealing with opposition and difficulty?8. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Our trust in God’s love allows us to experience His joy.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did this message add to your understanding of God’s love?2. How would define joy? How often do you experience joy? What do you think makes it hard for you to experience joy?3. Read Romans 5:6-8. In what sense are we powerless? What do these verses tell us about our ability to be right with God based on our own efforts?4. How is God’s love displayed through the death of Jesus? How does an understanding of God’s love change the way we relate to Him?5. Read 1 John 4:9-10. What does it mean that Jesus was an atoning sacrifice for our sins? How does this show the love of God? How does it impact your life to know that you are completely forgiven by God if you have trusted Christ?6. How does an understanding of God’s love through Jesus’ sacrifice help us to trust Him?7. Read Matthew 18:1-5. What example does Jesus give the Disciples of “the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” What does it look like to have a child-like faith?8. What does it look like to trust God on a daily basis? How does the follower of Christ cultivate a humble dependence on God?9. Read Romans 15:13. In Paul’s prayer for the Romans, what is the connection between trusting God and experiencing His joy and peace? How does this relate to hope?10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Sermon Questions: Palm SundayMain Point: To be a follower of Jesus, we must let Him lead our lives.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Is there a difference between a fan of Jesus and a follower of Jesus? How would you describe the differences?2. What was the significance of Palm Sunday? What were the different groups of people there? How did they respond to Jesus?3. Matthew 21:6-11. Why did the crowds show up to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem? What did they think He was coming to do?4. What things did they say to Jesus as He entered Jerusalem? What does this tell us about what they wanted from Jesus? What is the significance of Jesus entering on Jerusalem on a donkey?5. Read Luke 19:37-40. In these verses, Luke provides additional details to Jesus’ Triumphal Entry. How do the Pharisees respond to the crowd and to Jesus?6. Read Matthew 23:13-27. How does Jesus talk about the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law in these verses? Are you surprised at the way Jesus talked to the religious leaders? Why were His words so sharp and condemning?7. What does a modern-day Pharisee look like? Where do we find these same attitudes of the heart in the Christian church?8. Read Mark 8:34-38. What does it mean to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ? What does it look like for a person to do these things? What reason does Jesus give to do this?9. What would it look like to gain the whole world and have everything you want? How does gaining everything the world has to offer compared to following Jesus?10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: God’s design is for us to grow in a missional community.Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of spiritual growth? What does it mean that Christians are a missional community? Have you experienced church that way? What are some of the barriers to living life together in community? Read John 17:20-23. What is the context of these verses? Who is Jesus praying for? What is his prayer? Why does Jesus stress the importance of unity in his prayer? How is Christian unity a witness to the world? Read Acts 2:42-47. What do you notice about the community in these verses? What did they focus on when they gathered? Why were these elements central to Christian gatherings? In addition to meeting for worship, how often did these Christians meet? What does this suggest about the importance of being together for a Christian community? Read Hebrews 10:23-25. What words stick out to you in this passage? What are Christians commanded to do in these verses? Why is Christian regular fellowship so important? What role does encouragement play in Christian gatherings? What do Christians miss by not doing life together? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: We grow in faith as we trust in God and are transformed by His truth.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of spiritual growth?2. What do you remember from last week? What does it mean, “What we behold we become”?3. How are love and trust related? Can you have one without the other? How is believing that God loves you related to your ability to trust God’s transforming work in your life?4. Read Colossians 3:1-11. What words and ideas stick out to you in these verses? How do these verses relate to spiritual growth and transformation?5. Read Colossians 3:1-4. What does Paul mean that Christians have been “raised with Christ”? What does he mean that Christians have “died”? How does being saved change the heart and mind’s orientation?6. How does a Christian progressively change the orientation of the heart and the mind from earthly things to things above?7. Read Colossians 3:5-11. What practices does Paul list as being part of the earthly nature? What reason does he give for putting these things to death?8. What differences are there between the new self and the old self? What is the defining quality of the new self?9. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What role does Scripture play in spiritual transformation? How important is meditating on Scripture to spiritual transformation?10. Read Psalm 1:1-3. How does the Psalmist describe the person who meditates on God’s word. What impact does it have on that person? How do you meditate on the Scripture?11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: God’s desire is to redeem, restore, and transform people into the image of Jesus.Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of spiritual growth? What things have helped you grow in Christlikeness during different seasons of your life? What things are helping you become more like Jesus now? Read Romans 8:28-30. What words and ideas stick out to you in these verses? What is the purpose of God saving people? What does it mean to be “conformed to the image of his Son”? The Apostle Paul is describing a process of becoming like Jesus. This is often called the process of sanctification. What does it look like to become more like Jesus? What is necessary for that transformation to happen? Read 2 Corinthians 3:18. Take this verse word-by-word. What words do you have questions about? What is Paul communicating? The word “transformed” is important to this verse. What does it mean? What does “being transformed into his image” mean in the life of a follower of Christ? Read Romans 12:1-2. What does this verse tell us about living for God? How does what a person worships (what is most important to us) affect what that person becomes? What do these verses tell us about being transformed? According to verse 2, how are we transformed? What does this process look like? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
Main Point: Lament is praying to God, being honest about the difficulties of life, and renewing trust in His unchanging character.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer?2. How comfortable are you with sharing your feelings with God? How about negative feelings about the difficulties of life? What keeps Christians from honestly expressing their feelings to God?3. What are the three general sections of a lament? (1. Bring your complaint to God 2. Ask boldly for help 3. Choose to trust and praise.) Which of the sections are easiest for you and which are most challenging?4. Read Psalm 13. What do you notice about the Psalm? Who is the author? How does he talk about his circumstances? How does he talk about God?5. Read Psalm 13:1-2. What questions does David ask of God? What do his words convey?6. What does it mean that he is, “Wrestling with thoughts and sorrow in my heart”? Have you ever felt like David?7. Read Psalm 13:3-4. What help does David ask for in these verses? Why is it significant that he asks God to, “Give light to my eyes”? What is he asking for?8. David is being honest about where he is at instead of moving towards despair or denial. How do you think most people deal with the difficulties of life?9. Read Psalm 13:5-6. David ends this Psalm by choosing to trust in God. What are the things that anchor his choice to trust? Why does he rejoice? What motivates David’s praise even during his difficulty?10. What can we learn about prayer from Psalm 13? How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
Main Point: Prayer thrives when it is rooted in dependence and trust.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer?2. Give a few reasons people have trouble praying. What things keep you from praying regularly? What things have helped you to be faithful in prayer?3. Start by reading John 15:1-16. What is the main point of this passage? What does the metaphor of vine and branches tell us about the relationship what Jesus desires with us?4. How much can we do apart from connection with Jesus? What does this tell us about our dependency on God? How does being dependent on connection with God impact our prayer life?5. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. What commands are given in these verses? What is the connection between rejoicing, prayer, and gratitude? How does a focus on these things help us to trust God more?6. Why is it challenging to give thanks in all circumstances? What understanding is required to be thankful no matter lives circumstance?7. Read Philippians 4:4-7. How does trusting God in prayer relate to experiencing God’s peace? How do trust and dependence affect our prayer lives? From this passage, what is the reason that Christians are not to be anxious about anything?8. How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
Main Point: We depend upon God for Spiritual Protection.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer?2. Start by Read Matthew 6:9-13. As we finish up the Lord’s Prayer, what do you remember from previous weeks?3. Is there one petition of the Lord’s Prayer that has become more clear to you through this study? How has this changed the way you pray?4. Read Matthew 6:13. What is the main idea of this petition? What are we asking when we pray for God to “lead us not into temptation”? How does this relate to the second part, “but deliver us from the evil one”? (Hebrew Parallelism suggest that they say the same thing in opposite ways.)5. How do you define temptation? What makes temptation an issue for followers of Christ?6. Read James 1:13-15. What important truths do the verses explain about the nature of temptation? Is God the source of temptation? Where does temptation come from?7. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. How is this verse challenging? How is this verse encouraging? How can we overcome temptation in our lives?8. Read Hebrews 4:14-16. What do these verses tell us about sin and temptation? Does knowing that Jesus experienced temptation help you to pray to him about temptation? How does this give us boldness to ask for what we need?9. Is being tempted a sin in and of itself? When does temptation become a sin?10. How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
When you think about the three words used traditionally in the Lord’s prayer (Debts, Sins, Trespasses), how does each one influence your understanding of forgiveness?What is it about God’s character that gives us the confidence that He will forgive?What keeps us from seeking forgiveness daily? What are questions we can ask ourselves as we reflect on our need for forgiveness?Review 1 John 1:9 and James 4:17 and discuss how they inform the way we seek forgiveness.What is wrong with Disney’s admonition to “follow your heart”? (Jeremiah 17:9)How do our emotions sometimes prevent us from being faithful to forgive?How are we sometimes like the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35In what ways to we buy into the false forgiveness patterns illustrated by Tim Keller?(Excusing, Whitewashing, Silent revenge, Keeping a record, Condescending mercy, and Forgive and Forget)Discuss the steps in forgiveness and how they might play out in a real life situation.• Name the action as wrong and punishable, rather than merely excusing it (sounds like 1 John 1:9)• Identify with the perpetrator as a fellow sinner, rather than thinking of them as worse than you (Romans 12:3)• Release the wrongdoer from liability by absorbing the debt yourself rather than seeking revenge and “paying them back” (Romans 12:17-21 that we looked at above)• Aim for reconciliation, rather than breaking off the relationship forever, waiting on God for a change in the debtors heart. (Matthew 5:23-24, Hebrews 12:14)Why did Joseph’s brothers feel the need to seek forgiveness in Genesis 50? What would you have done if you were Joseph?In what ways might American Christians need to seek corporate forgiveness? (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Main Point: Praying for daily bread is an act of trust and dependence on God.Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer? Start by Read Matthew 6:9-13. What do you remember from last week’s message about praying for God’s Kingdom and His will? Has that affected your prayer life this week? The Lord’s Prayer is structured in three sections: opening connection, God’s glory, and our good. When we pray for God’s glory we are also praying for our good and vice versa. Do you see any significance to the structure of this prayer? How does starting with connection and prayers for God’s glory affect our prayer for our good? Read Matthew 6:11. This prayer starts with the word “give.” Does this sound too demanding? What allows us to boldly ask God for the things that we need? What are we asking for when we pray, “Give us today our daily bread”? Read Matthew 6:25-34. How is praying for daily bread and act of faith? How can trusting God for our daily bread help us to avoid worrying? What does Jesus say about worry in these verses? What reasons does He give for not worrying? Read Matthew 4:4 and John 6:35. Daily bread can have literal and spiritual implications. How are we feed spiritual by God? What does it mean that Jesus is the Bread of Life? How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
Main Point: We pray for God’s ongoing work in us and in the world.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer?2. Start by Read Matthew 6:9-13. What do you remember from last week’s message about God as our Father and His name being hallowed? Has that affected your prayer life this week?3. Read Matthew 6:10. What is God’s Kingdom? How does developing and understanding of God’s Kingdom affect the way we understand the Christian Faith?4. What does it mean that the Kingdom of God is “already and not yet”? How does an understanding of this tension help to better understand God’s larger plan for human history?5. What are we praying for when we pray, “Your kingdom come”? How does this prayer function on a personal level and on a global level?6. What does it mean to pray, “You will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”? What are we asking for God to do? How are we involved in this process?7. If God’s will was done in every area of your life, what would be different about you? Are there any specific areas of your life that God brought to mind when you heard this passage?8. How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
Main Point: A Christian’s relationship with God is grounded in respect and love.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer?2. Describe your experience with The Lord’s Prayer. Has it been a part of your church and faith experience? Do you regularly use it when you pray?3. How do you relate to God in prayer? Is it comfortable for you to address God as Father? Why or why not?4. Read Matthew 6:9-13. What do you notice about the Lord’s prayer? Is there anything about the structure of the prayer that is significant? What parts are easy to prayer? What parts are more challenging to you?5. Read Matthew 6:9 again. Jesus starts by making a contrast about the way the Pharisees and Gentiles pray. What does Jesus say about the way they pray in Matthew 6:5-8? How is the Lord’s Prayer different?6. In the opening verse of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus establishes a balance in the way that we address God. What is this balance? What do the words, “Our Father in Heaven” reveal about the two important ways we related to God?7. Next, Jesus adds the phrase “hallowed be your name.” What does it mean that God’s name is holy? What does this tell us about the way we are to approach God in prayer?8. How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
Main Point: The focus of our prayer is God.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of prayer?2. How do you feel about praying in public? What keeps you from praying in front of others or with other people?3. What do your prayers sound like? Are they more structured or are they more conversational? What are the advantages of disadvantages of structured prayers?4. Read Matthew 6:5-6. What situation is Jesus addressing in these verses? How does an understanding of the Jewish practice of prayer help to understand what Jesus is saying?5. What is Jesus saying to avoid in these verses? What kind of prayer does He desire?6. Read Matthew 6:7-8. What problems with prayer is Jesus addressing in these verses? What does it mean to “babble”? What is the problem Jesus has with babbling in prayer? How does babbling demonstrate a misunderstanding of how prayer works?7. If God knows what we need before we ask, what is the purpose of prayer? Does knowing that God already is already aware of what you need make you want to pray more? Why or why not?8. By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God changed or deepened?9. How can you put into practice what you learned about prayer this week?
Main Point: Prayer is relationship with God. Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? At the start of the new year, how would you like this year to be different? Describe your experience with prayer. Has it changed during different seasons of life? What do you like most about prayer? What is the most challenging part of praying? When have you felt closest to God? What was going on during that season of life? Read Luke 11:1-5. What do the Disciples ask of Jesus? What elements do you notice in the Lord’s Prayer? Compare it to Matthew’s account in Matthew 6:9-13. What things does Jesus instruct his disciples to pray about? In what way is relationship with God central to the Lord’s prayer? Read Luke 11:5-8. What is going on in this parable? How do the customs of the Ancient Near East help us better understand this parable? What is Jesus telling his disciples about prayer through this parable? How does this affect your understanding of prayer? Read Luke 11:9-10. What invitation does Jesus make in these verses? What does this say about God’s desire for his children in prayer? Read Luke 11:11-12. What is the point of Jesus’ next example? What confidence do these verses give us about God’s fatherly care? Why is the gift of the Holy Spirit so important to the follower of Christ? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God changed or deepened?
Main Point: Those who are truly seeking God will find Him.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? At the start of the new year, how would you like this year to be different?2. What did you learn about the Magi from this passage? How is Matthew’s account of the Magi different from the way the Magi are traditionally depicted?3. Read Matthew 2:1-12. How are the people mentioned in these verse? What do you know about each one of the different groups? What are the Magi seeking? What is King Herod seeking?4. Read Matthew 2:1-8. Who are the Magi? Why have they traveled from the East? Who is King Herod? What prophecy do the priests and the teachers of the law quote about the Messiah? (See Micah 5:2,4)5. Why would Herod and all Jerusalem be “disturbed” by the Magi? Does Herod truly want to worship the Messiah?6. Read Matthew 2:9-12. How do the Magi react when they see Jesus? What gifts do they offer him? Why do you think they did not go back to Herod like he asked them to do?7. Read Matthew 5:13-16. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about being a witness in the world. What two analogies does Jesus use?8. What does it mean to be salt and light in the world? List a few practical ways that our lives can point others to Jesus.9. What would it look like for you to be salt and light to the people around you? What would have to change in your relationship with God to help you be salt and light? What holds you back from making these changes?10. By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God changed or deepened?
Main Point: As we trust in Jesus, we experience real peace. Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? What does it mean that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace”? How much peace are you experiencing in your life right now? What thing in your life contribute to your peace? What things take away from your peace? Start by Reading Luke 2:8-19. Describe the situation. What is did the angel of the Lord announce to the shepherds? What did the angelic host say? What does their message tell us about Jesus and the peace of God? Read John 14:25-27. Before Jesus goes to the cross, He reassures them that He will send the Holy Spirit. Jesus also promises to give them His peace. How is Jesus’ peace different than peace the world provides? What does having God’s peace have to with not having a troubled heart and not being afraid? Read Romans 5:1. What does it mean to be justified by faith? (Read Romans 4:22-25 for context.) How does the work of Jesus on the cross provide peace with God for all who believe? What does it mean to have peace with God? How does this understanding shape the way we related to God and the world? Read Philippians 4:6-7. Peace is very different than anxiety. How does Paul direct us to deal with anxiety? How does prayer provide peace? How does peace guard our hearts and minds? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God changed or deepened?
Main Point: We are forgiven, known, and loved by God.Questions:1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself?2. What do you think of when you hear the description “Everlasting Father”? After hearing the message, what is does this description mean? How does understanding this truth affect the way you relate to Jesus?3. Start by Reading Psalm 103. This is a very power Psalm about the character of God and how He relates to His people. What verses stuck out to you? What do you learn about God’s heart in this Psalm?4. Read Psalm 103:13. How would you define compassion? What does it look like in practice? Can you think of a time when you were shown compassion?5. How is the compassion a human father feels for his children like the compassion God feels for His people? How does this help us understand the way God feels about us?6. Read Psalm 103:8-12. What words does the Psalmist use to describe God in these verses? How do these verses relate to God’s forgiveness? How does God relate to those He has forgiven?7. Read Psalm 103:14-16. What does God know about us? What do these verses show about the brevity of life? How does knowing life is fragile and short provide perspective about what is important in life? How could remembering that life is short affect your priorities?8. Read Psalm 103:17 and 1 John 3:1. What do these verses tell us about God’s love? Do you believe that God loves you? Why is it hard for people accept God loves them? How does His love change the way you live?9. Read Luke 15:11-32. What does the story of the Prodigal Son reveal about God’s love? How does the father greet his son when he returns home? What does God desire that people do in response to His love?10. By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God changed or deepened
Main Point: Jesus is limitless in power and the only one worthy of our worship.Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? What do you think of when you hear the description “Mighty God”? What does it mean for Jesus to be strong and powerful? How do you feel about this description of Jesus? Read John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15-17. What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ role in the creation of the universe? What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ power? What does it mean that “in him all things hold together”? What does this reveal about Jesus’ active sustaining power in the world? Read Matthew 8:23-27 and Matthew 9:35-36. What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ power over nature and diseases? Read Luke 4:40-41 and John 11:38-44. What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ power over demons and death? Read Romans 1:16-17 and Jude 24-25. What is the gospel? How does faith in Jesus’ work on the cross save people? How does Jesus’ power provide confidence in the difficulties of life? If Jesus is the mighty God of Scripture, how does this change the way you relate to Him? Does Jesus’ power help you to trust Him more? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
- Think of your favorite or most unique Christmas tradition: (If in a group take some time to share them). What makes that tradition special or meaningful? Why is it a tradition?2. Thinking about your traditions:What role do they play in highlighting Christ's Birth?Do they draw you closer to the nativity or do the opposite?3. Is it ok to have traditions that have no scriptural or spiritual meaning?Is there a difference between a holiday tradition and an advent tradition?Should there be a difference?4. Read Isaiah 9:1 and Matthew 4:12-17Why is it important that Matthew makes this note? What are the ramifications for this section theologically?5. Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 and Mark 6:1-6Do you think Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 2 is more true today than in His own time?If Christ came today what differences would there be in His ministry or the way He dealt with cynics?Why does the world find the message of Christ so foolish and unbelievable?6. How have you seen the wisdom of Christ in your own life? How has Christ's Wonderful Counsel had an effect on you or someone you know?7. How are you looking for Christ this advent season? Are there any ways you plan to make new, or change, Christmas traditions?
Main Point: Stand firm, by God’s strength, in God’s armor, during spiritual battle.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? What do you think of when you hear the term, “Spiritual Warfare”? Do you believe in a literal Devil? What you know about the Devil from the Bible? Read Ephesians 6:10-12. Where is the Believer’s source of strength? What is the purpose of putting on the armor of God? What are the Devil’s schemes? Who are Christians at war with? How does this affect a Christians understanding of human “enemies”? Why is it dangerous to demonize people that you disagree with? Read Ephesians 6:13-17. What does it mean to put on the full armor of God? Why is this practice important to living the Christian life? What happens when Christians do not put on the armor of God due to apathy or lack of awareness? What are the pieces of armor listed in this section? What do they protect, and why are they important? What pieces of armor are to be worn all the time, and what pieces are to be put on when battle is imminent? Read Ephesians 6:18-20. What role does prayer have in spiritual warfare? How can this understanding of prayer motivate us to pray, “On all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests”? What does Paul tell the Ephesians to pray about? What do Paul’s prayer requests tell us about what he thought was most important? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: Love and submission shapes our relationships.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? In this section, Paul addresses how the Christian life is lived out in marriage, family, and work relationships. Which one of Paul’s instructions did you find the most challenging? Have you seen relationships marked by love and submission? What did they look like? Read Ephesians 5:21. What does the word submission mean? What does it look like to submit to one another? How is submission to connected to a Christian’s relationship with God? Read Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:24. What do these verses tell us about men and women? What do these verses tell us about marriage and the relationship God wants husbands and wives to have? Read Ephesians 5:22-24. What are wives called to do in these verses? What does Paul say about the husband’s leadership in these verses? Read Ephesians 5:25-33. What are husbands called to do in these verses? What examples does Paul give of how husbands are to love their wives? Read Ephesians 6:1-4. What are children called to do in these verses? What are fathers instructed to do? What does it mean to exasperate your children? How is this contrary to training them in the faith? Read Ephesians 6:5-9. A modern equivalent to masters and slaves would be managers and employees. What instructions are given to masters and slaves in these verses? How are slaves to serve their masters? How are masters called to treat their slaves? For both the master and the slave, what is the motivation do what Paul instructed? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: Live a life marked by the love of Jesus.
Questions:
~What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? ~Read Ephesians 5:1-2. What do you learn about God’s love in these verses? What words would best describe God’s love? ~As a result of being loved by God, what should Christians (“dearly loved children”) do? What is the best way Christians can show the love of God to the world? ~Read Ephesians 5:3-7. In contrast to God’s perfect love, Paul now discusses how love can be perverted. What is God’s good plan for human sexuality? In what ways does Paul say that God’s plan for healthy sexuality gets corrupted? Instead of these unhealthy expressions of sexuality, what does Paul advocate in 5:4? ~What are the consequences of habitually embracing a lifestyle of sexual immorality? How do our actions reflect our understanding of God? ~Read Ephesians 5:8-14. What does it mean to “Live as children of the light”? What is the fruit of living in the light? ~How is the darkness different from the light? What does it mean to expose the deeds of darkness? ~What does the phrase, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” mean? How can this apply to both Christians and those who don’t know Jesus yet? What is Paul calling people to do? ~Read Ephesians 5:15-20. What does it mean to make wise use of our time? What contrast does Paul make between being drunk and being filled with the Spirit? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? ~How are we to speak to other Christians. How does our speak reflect the condition of our hearts? ~By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: Growing in Christ means building up, caring deeply, and forgiving like Jesus.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? In Ephesians 4:29-32, Paul continues talking about qualities of the new self. By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians can grow to become like Jesus. He is the only one who embodies all of these characteristics perfectly. Of all the qualities that were encouraged or discouraged, which is the hardest for you? What experiences have made is hard for you to change this area of your life? Read Ephesians 4:29-30. How would you define “unwholesome talk”? How does unwholesome talk tear others down instead of building them up in Christ? How would your speech change if all that you said was helpful for the people around you? What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit? How does this relational element change your understanding of the choices I make? Read Ephesians 4:31. Paul continues his discussion of anger from verse 4:26-27. The words in verse 31 build in intensity as anger grows. How do you handle anger? Anger can intensify when it is not dealt with appropriately. How do you prevent your anger from building within you? Read Ephesians 4:32. In contrast to the destructive nature of unwholesome talk and anger, Paul gives three important graces: kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. How would you define each one of these? Which is the hardest for you? Jesus is our prefect example for all these virtues. Paul specifically links extending forgiveness to others with the forgiveness Christians have received from Jesus. What does this mean for the way we are to forgive others? How does Jesus’ forgiveness provide motivation to forgive others? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: New identity leads to new perspectives and behaviors.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? In Ephesians 4:17-24, Paul provides some specific ways for Christians to grow into the “new self.” He addresses truth, anger, and work. Which one of these areas is the most challenging for you? What experiences have you had that might Paul’s instructions difficult to live out? Read Ephesians 4:25. What does it mean to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor”? How does lack of personal integrity affect the community of faith? What reason does Paul give for speaking truthfully to each other? How does speaking truth bring health to the body of believers? Are there things that you have trouble being honest about? What makes it difficult to speak the truth? Read Ephesians 4:26-27. Anger can be a challenging emotion to handle correctly. What boundary does Paul provide in the way Christians are to express anger? What reason does Paul give for urgency when dealing with anger? What happens when we allow anger to fester? How does this give the devil a foothold? Read Ephesians 4:28. What are subtle ways that we can steal from people? Are these methods of stealing better or worse than directly taking something that doesn’t belong to you? In this verse, what motivation does Paul give for working? How does this perspective challenge the typical reasons people have for making money? By God’s grace what are some specific things you can do this week to apply what you have learned? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: We grow as we put of our old identity and live into our new identity in Christ.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? How has your life changed since you trusted in Christ? Were there any habits or patterns of life you had to give up? What things did you start doing as a result of following Christ? Are there any areas you are working on currently? Read Ephesians 4:17-19. What command does Paul give in verse 17? What does it look like to live in the futility of non-Christian thinking? How does Paul describe the mindset and lifestyle of those who do not know Jesus yet? Do any of these words stick out to you? Rewrite verses 18-19 to communicate the truth of Paul’s description in your own words. Read Ephesians 4:20-24. How does Paul describe coming to know Christ in these verses? What do we learn about this process from the different analogies he uses? What does is mean to put off the old self? How do we do that? What does it mean to put on the new self? How do we do that? What is the end goal of the process of putting of the old self and putting on the new self? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: We mature together as we serve each other in love and truth.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? What is the key ingredient to spiritual maturity? What prevents people from maturing in their faith? What false teaching is most detrimental to Christian maturity? Review - Read Ephesians 4:11-13. What is the task of Christian leaders in the church? What does it mean to “equip his people for works of service”? What is the goal of building up the body of Christ? Why is unity and knowledge of the Son of God important to reach this goal? As Christians mature, who will they resemble? Read Ephesians 4:14. In this verse, what does immaturity look like? What example does Paul give to describe immaturity? What is the danger of being influenced by false teaching? How does Paul describe false teachers? How dangerous is false teaching to the Christian faith? Read Ephesians 4:15. What is Paul’s solution to false teaching? What does it mean to speak the truth in love? What is the result of speaking the truth in love? Read Ephesians 4:16. How does Paul’s use of ligaments help to better understand how God works to grow Christians? Every Christian’s unique gifts and personality is involved in growth. How are you a part of building up the body of Christ? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: God places us in community to grow us into maturity
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? Think of a time when you experienced growth in your faith. What was going on in your life at the time? Did any of your growth come from being a part of a community? Read Ephesians 4:11-12 In these verses Paul lists different leadership gifts that are given to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. How would you define each of these roles? What is the purpose of Christ’s gift of leadership to the church? What does the leadership of the church equip the people of the church to do? What is the goal of these works of service? All followers of Christ are called to serve in different ways. Who is responsible for ministering in the church? Read Ephesians 4:13. What does it mean to “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature”? How does Paul define maturity? Do we need other Christians to reach maturity in the faith? Do other people need us to reach maturity in the faith? How does this understanding of our need for each other influence your understanding of being a part of the church? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Verses: Ephesians 4:7-10
Main Point: Jesus’ victory is the source of change.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? What is the major thing that gets in the way of making changes in our lives? What is necessary to make true and lasting change? Read Ephesians 4:7. Paul’s use of the word “but” demonstrates a contrast between the previous verses and what he is now saying. What is the contrast? (See Eph 4:1-6 for reference.) What kind of grace is Paul referring to in this verse? How does it compliment saving grace for those who have trusted Jesus? Read Ephesians 4:8 Paul is referencing Psalm 68 in this verse. What is his main point? What does this verse tell us about Jesus and his ascension? What imagery does Paul draw upon to make his point? What are the gifts that he gives to his people? Read Ephesians 4:9-10. These two verses are a parenthetical explanation on the previous verse. What does it mean that Jesus descended? What was accomplished as a result of Jesus’ incarnation? What does it mean that Jesus “ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe”? What does this suggest in terms of Jesus’ victory? What implications does this have for our lives? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: The more we understand our new identity in Christ, the more we will grow in Christ and grow together in community.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Did you learn anything new about God or about yourself? What words would you use to describe yourself? What things do you find you identity in? How does our understanding of our identity influence the way we live? Read Ephesians 4-1. In this verse, Paul moves from describing who we are in Christ (chapters 1-3) to how we live in light of our new identity (chapters 4-6). What does it mean to “live a life worthy of the called you received”? Why does Paul call himself “a prisoner for the Lord”? Beyond literally being in prison, what might Paul be communicating through this description? Read Ephesians 4:2-3. What words does Paul use to describe the behavior that marks a Christian? What do these words mean, and what implications do they have for everyday life? Which one of these character qualities do you struggle with the most? Why is unity such an important part of being a Christian? What is the source of Christian unity? Read Ephesians 4:4-6. How many times is the word “one” used in these verses? What point is Paul making about Christian unity? What things keep Christians from being unified in the way God desires? Take a look at each of the seven “ones” in these verses. What is the significance of the things Paul listed? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Verses: Ephesians Chapters 1-3
Main Point: The Gospel gives people a new identity, new community, and a new purpose in life.
Introduction:
This week we are studying the first three chapters of the book of Ephesians. This will set up our study of Ephesians chapter four. The book of Ephesians has two parts: Doctrine (Right understanding of the truth) and Application (How we live in response to the truth). In the first three chapters, the Apostle Paul lays out the realities of the Gospel. In the final three chapters, Paul gives practical application for how Christians are to live into the reality of their new identity in Christ. Ephesians chapters 1-3 are some of the most beautiful and profound chapters in all of Paul’s writings. They express the magnitude God’s work through Jesus, Christians’ new identity in Christ, unity in Christ that goes beyond ethnic groups, and the power of God at work in Believers. We are studying a larger section of Scripture than we normally do, so please take your time, and enjoy the beauty and depth of God’s word.
Questions:
What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What is the most significant thing that you learned or remembered about God, the Gospel, or your identity in Christ. Read Ephesians 1:1-14. What does this section tell us about God’s love? For what purpose did God choose Christians? What questions do you have after reading this section? All three members of the Trinity are working in salvation. What things does Paul say the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do in salvation? Read Ephesians 1:15-23. What is the substance of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians? What do these verses tell us about God’s power? Read Ephesians 2:1-10. How does Paul describe the spiritual condition of humans before they trust in Jesus? What is God’s motivation form making us “alive with Christ”? Do good works save us? What saves us? What has been prepared in advance for Christians to do? Read Ephesians 2:11-22. One of the outcomes of the Gospel is unity across ethic lines. What two groups is Paul talking about being reconciled? How was this accomplished? Read Ephesians 3:1-12. What is the mystery that Paul is talking about? What mission was Paul given? Read Ephesians 3:14-21. What does Paul pray for in this passage? Why is it important to know and experience the power and the love of God? In verses 20-21, Paul breaks into praise of God. What does Paul’s praise reveal about God? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? How has your understanding of God’s love, grace, and salvation changed or deepened?
Main Point: We must be on guard against God substitutes in our lives.
Questions:
What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How would you define an idol? What are some of the most common idols in the United States? Read 1 John 5:18-21. What contrasts do you notice in this section? Why does John use the word “true” three times? What does he want people to know? John instructs his audience to keep themselves (be on guard) from idols. What does that mean? In practical terms, how can Christians guard themselves against God substitutes? Why are idols so dangerous? Read Exodus 20:1-4. What is the first command in the Ten Commandments? Why is this the first commandment given by God? How does the first commandment relate to the rest of the commandments? Read Romans 1:18-25. What do we learn about people’s response to God in these verses? What do these verses tell us about the root cause of idolatry? In verse 25, Paul writes that, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…” People worshipped and served created things. What does this verse tell us about the human need to worship? How do people serve their idols? Read Acts 17:16-34. How does Paul respond to all the idols he sees in Athens? How does he use the Athenians religious devotion to share the Gospel? What contrasts does Paul make with the idols and the true God? In verse 30, what does God (through Paul), command the people to do? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week? What idols have you discovered in your life? How can you deal with the idols?
Main Point: Relationship with God allows us to engage life with confidence.
Questions:
What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What areas of your life do you feel confident in? What areas are you less confident? How does a relationship with God provide confidence in life? Read 1 John 5:13-15. What does John want his readers to be assured of in these verses? What does the word “know” mean? Why is it important for Christians to know they are saved, and God hears their prayers? What does it mean to pray according to God’s will? How do we know if we are praying according to God’s will? Read 1 John 5:16-17. What are Christians supposed to do when they see another Christian sin? What is the result of their prayer? What’s the difference between a sin that does not lead to death and a sin that leads to death? Read 1 John 5:18-19. In these verses, John makes is clear that Christians will not continue in a habitual pattern of sin. If this is true, why do Christians continue to sin? How does God keep Christians safe? What does it mean that the evil one controls the world? How does this understanding of the world impact the way we relate to the world? Read 1 John 5:20. What implications can be drawn from this verse? If Jesus is the true God and eternal life, what does that mean about others claiming to know the truth? Why is the concept of truth challenging in a post-modern pluralistic culture? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: We respond to God’s great love and salvation with love and obedience.
Questions:
What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? Have you ever wondered if you or someone close to you is truly saved? What would you tell someone is required to be saved? Why do you think people doubt their salvation? Read 1 John 5:1-5. What does it mean to believe Jesus is the Christ? What happens when a person believes this? How does this new nature affect the way we love others? How is loving God related to keeping his commandments? (See John 14:15 and John 15:9-14) Why are his commands not burdensome? How do Christians overcome (“conquer”) the world through faith in Christ? Have you seen evidence of overcoming the world in your life? Read 1 John 5:6-10. John wants his readers to be sure Jesus is God’s son. What evidence does John present? What does John mean by “water” and “blood”? How does the Spirit give witness to the fact that Jesus is the son of God? What does John call the person that does not accept this testimony? Read 1 John 5:11-15. John is very clear about who has eternal life. What does a person need to have confidence that they have eternal life? According to John, what confidence do Christians have in their prayer life? How does this compare to John 14:13-14 and James 5:16? How would your prayer life change if you have more of this confidence? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: We must know the truth to determine what it false.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? 2. Why is knowing the difference between real teachers and false teachers so important? Can you think of an example of a false Christian teacher that claimed to know Christ and led people away from God? 3. Read the entire section and look for the times John uses the phrases “from God” and “the world.” What do you notice about the contrast John sets up? What are the characteristics of those who are “from God” and those that are part of “the world”? 4. Read 1 John 4:1. What two commands does John give his people in this verse? If a spirit is not from God, what is the other alternative? 5. John notes that “many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How does this relate to 1 John 2:18-19? 6. Read 1 John 4:2-3. What test does John give to determine whether a teacher is from God or not from God? What does it mean to acknowledge, “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”? 7. Read the Gospel of John 1:1-4 and 14. How do these verses clarify what John means in 1 John 4:2-3? What is Jesus’ relationship to God? What does it mean that he, “became flesh and made his dwelling among us”? 8. Read 1 John 4:4-6. What does John compare in these verses? How are the false teachers received by the world? 9. What test does John give in verse 6? How does this relate to the importance of the Bible? 10. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 11. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: We must know the truth to determine what it false.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? 2. Why is knowing the difference between real teachers and false teachers so important? Can you think of an example of a false Christian teacher that claimed to know Christ and led people away from God? 3. Read the entire section and look for the times John uses the phrases “from God” and “the world.” What do you notice about the contrast John sets up? What are the characteristics of those who are “from God” and those that are part of “the world”? 4. Read 1 John 4:1. What two commands does John give his people in this verse? If a spirit is not from God, what is the other alternative? 5. John notes that “many false prophets have gone out into the world.” How does this relate to 1 John 2:18-19? 6. Read 1 John 4:2-3. What test does John give to determine whether a teacher is from God or not from God? What does it mean to acknowledge, “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”? 7. Read the Gospel of John 1:1-4 and 14. How do these verses clarify what John means in 1 John 4:2-3? What is Jesus’ relationship to God? What does it mean that he, “became flesh and made his dwelling among us”? 8. Read 1 John 4:4-6. What does John compare in these verses? How are the false teachers received by the world? 9. What test does John give in verse 6? How does this relate to the importance of the Bible? 10. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 11. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: If we are loved by God, we will love like God.
Questions:
What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What does John teach us about love in these verses? What contrasts does he use to help us understand love more deeply? Read 1 John 3:11-15. In what way is loving one another inseparable from the gospel? How do Cain’s actions provide a contrast to loving one another? Why does the world hate Christians? According to verse 14, how are Christians different than the world? How does loving people reflect the reality of knowing the love of God? Read 1 John 3:15-18. What does Jesus’ sacrifice tell us about what love? What does it look like for Christians to lay down their lives like Jesus? What connection does John make between God’s love in a Believer and meeting a brother or sister’s needs? John is clear that real love acts. What does it look like to love with “actions and in truth”? Read 1 John 3:19-24. What does John reveal about assurance of salvation in these verses? What reassurance does John provide about prayer? What is God’s command? How is that similar to what Jesus said in Matthew 22:34-40? What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: God’s amazing love adopts us and changes us, so we become like Jesus.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the sermon this weekend? What ideas challenged you or encouraged you? 2. How would you describe God’s love from these verses? How does being a son or daughter of God through faith in Jesus change the way we live? 3. Read 1 John 2:28-3:1. How does John want his readers to respond to Jesus’ return? What allows them to feel this way? 4. Being a child of God is a big deal! What allows a person to become a child a God? How did God lavish his love on us to make us children of God? 5. Read 1 John 3:2-3. What do these verses tell us about being transformed by God? How does having this hope affect the way a Christian lives? 6. What does it mean to purify oneself? Are there practical ways of doing this? 7. Read 1 John 3:4-8. How does the believer relate to sin? Is John calling believer to be sinless to show they are saved? 8. How does Jesus’ work on earth destroy the work of the devil? 9. Read 1 John 3:9-10. What does John mean that “No one who is born of God will continue to sin”? How does one know if they are a child of God or a child of the devil? 10. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 11. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
-
Read John 15:1-12 What are the major parallels between this passage and the first two chapters of 1 John?
-
Read 1 John 2:15-19 Do you think there is any connection between the instruction to not love the world and the warning against denying the son?
-
Read 1 John 2:20-21 Why do you think John clarifies the purpose for writing? What does he mean no lie comes from the truth?
-
Read 1 John 2:24-25 What is John referring to when he says "what you have heard from the beginning"? What does it mean that it "remains in you"? What is the end result of that?
-
It has been almost 2,000 years since this letter was written. Can you identify areas where John's instruction is still relevant? What do you think is still the most important or relevant portion of this passage?
-
Looking at the message John proclaims, how can you apply it? If John were still alive and writing to you or to this church, what would he say?
Questions:
-
Read 1 John 1:1-5. Why do you think John places so much emphasis and importance on what has already been preached and heard?
-
Read 1 John 1:6-7. What does claiming to have fellowship with Christ look like in our culture? What does John say indicates the truthfulness of those claims? What is "walking in darkness"?
-
Read 1 John 1:8-10. How does modern culture view sin? What would modern culture claim concerning what John says?
-
John tells his readers in 1 John 2:1-2 that while he desires their purity. What role does Christian purity (or its pursuit) play in Christian faith?
-
Read 1 John 2:3-6. Why is obedience to God so important for a Christian?
6.Review the 3 lies combated in this week's passage: Lie #1. God is ok with sin/God can abide sin Lie #2. It is possible to be sinless apart from Christ Lie #3. The way I live my life doesn’t affect my Christianity Which is most common broadly in our culture? Which one is most common among Christians?
-
How do you think Jesus would respond to someone under the influence of these lies?
-
How can you put into practice the things you learned this week? How can you work to combat the 3 lies in your own life?
Main Point: The Gospel connects us to God and with others in authentic community. Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about the Apostle John and the background of book of 1 John? 2. How would you describe the incarnation of Jesus? Why is the incarnation important to understanding the Gospel? 3. Read 1 John 1:1-2. Who or what is the Word of Life that John described in these verses? Why did John emphasize that the Word of life could be touched, heard, and seen? 4. How does the Gospel of John 1:1-3 relate to 1 John 1:1-2? How is the “In the Beginning” of John 1:1 different from the “From the beginning” of 1 John 1:1? 5. Read 1 John 1:3-4. What was the goal of John proclaiming the message of the Gospel (“eternal life”) to the churches? What does the word fellowship mean? 6. How does the Gospel create and sustain true fellowship? What can happen in churches where the Gospel is not central? 7. How is joy connected to fellowship with God and with other Christians? 8. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Silence and Solitude refines and deepens our faith by removing distractions and renewing our focus.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about silence and solitude? 2. Which is harder for you - being silent or being alone? What are the purposes of the habit of silence and solitude? 3. How does silence and solitude help us to battle against busyness and distraction? 4. Read Luke 5:12-16. What did Jesus do in this passage? After the healing, people came to Jesus for healing. How did Jesus respond? What does this tell us about the importance of silence and solitude? 5. Read Matt 14:13, 23 and Mark 1:25. What do these passages tell us about Jesus’ pattern of life? Why do you think silence and solitude were so important for Jesus? 6. Read Acts 7:27-30 and Galatians 1:11–20. How long did Moses and Paul spend in solitude and silence? How did their time in solitude and silence prepare them for what God has called them to? 7. Read Psalm 46:10. What does it mean to “be still”? How good are you at being still? 8. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Fasting helps us to seek God and desire Him above all things.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about fasting? 2. What is fasting? Name a few reasons Christians fast? 3. Read Matthew 6:16-18. In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus is talking about the three main forms of Jewish piety: giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting. 4. What principle extends to all three activities? Why is this principle significant? 5. Why would people who are fasting want other people to know they are fasting? What reward do they receive when they let people know they are fasting? 6. What is the reward of fasting when only God knows a person is fasting? 7. Read Acts 13:1-3. At a pivotal point, the church gathered together to worship and fast. What happened while to church was worshipping and fasting? 8. What does this tell us about one of the possible goals of fasting? 9. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: All that we have is a gift of God meant to be used for his glory and our good.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about stewardship? 2. How do you define stewardship? Give an example of something you steward. 3. Read Psalm 24:1. What difference does it make that God owns everything? How does this understanding impact the way Christians live and their understanding of possessions? 4. Read Psalm 90:12 and 139:16. What do these verses tell you about stewarding your time? How does knowing your time on earth is limited affect your stewardship of your time? 5. Read 1 Peter 4:10-12. How are Christians supposed to use the gifts that God has given them? What two broad categories of spiritual gifts does Peter talk about in these verses? 6. Read Matthew 6:19-24. What does Jesus say about the effect that money can have on the heart? How can money become a rival to God? 7. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10. What perspective does Paul give us about money and possessions in these verses? How is “the love of money the root of all evil”? 8. How does knowing that “we brought nothing into the world, and we can talk nothing out of it” affect our understanding of stewardship? 9. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Evangelism grows our love for God and shows our love for others.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about evangelism? 2. What is evangelism? How would you define the Gospel message that Christians share when they evangelize? 3. What experience have you had with sharing the Gospel? How do feel about sharing the Gospel? What do you think keeps people from sharing the Gospel? 4. Read John 3:16-18. What is the good news communicated in these verses? What is the bad news? How are people saved? 5. Read John 14:16. What is Jesus saying in this passage? Is Jesus the only way to eternal life? How do you feel about the exclusivity of Jesus’ words? Is it hard to believe that Jesus is the only way to be saved? 6. Read Matthew 28:18-20. These verses are known as the Great Commission. What does Jesus command his Disciples to do in this passage? How do we make disciples? 7. Read 1 Peter 3:13-17. Do you think the current culture is hostile to Christians? How does Peter instruct the Christians to live while enduring persecution? 8. What is the hope Peter writes about? How can Christians be prepared to give an answer for the hope they have in Christ? How is this answer to be given? 9. What did you learn about God this week? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Through Worship, God transforms our affections and connects us more deeply to himself.
Questions:
What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about worship? What does it mean to worship? God has created humanity to worship, and everyone worships something. How can you get an idea of what a person worships? Read Romans 12:1. What does this verse communicate about worship? What does Paul mean by “God’s mercy”? What does Jesus’ sacrifice tell us about the character of God? What does it mean to offer yourself to God as a “living sacrifice”? How is offering oneself to God “true and proper worship”? Read John 4:1-26. What did you learn about Jesus from this passage? What did you learn about worship? What does Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman teach us about the location of worship? True worshippers worship God in “Spirit and Truth.” What does this mean? Why are both elements important? Read Hebrews 10:24-25. What is the author of Hebrews encouraging his listeners to do? Why is it important to meet together regularly with other Christians to worship? How did Jesus model this? What are some common reasons for missing church? What are the consequences of sporadic church attendance? Why is it important to encourage each other? What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Prayer deepens our relationship with God and has impact the world around us.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about prayer? 2. How would you describe your prayer life right now? What do you find good or frustrating with your prayer life? 3. Read Matthew 6:9. What did Jesus teach you about your relationship with God in this verse? How does knowing God relates to us as perfect and loving Father impact your prayer life? 4. Read Matthew 7:7-12. What do these verses tell us about the results of prayer? What does it reveal about the character of God and his desire to care for his children? 5. Does this mean your prayers will always be answered the way you want? Why is it a good thing that God does not always do what we ask for? 6. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. What does it mean to “pray continually”? Why does God command us to pray? What does praying continually look like to you? 7. Read Philippians 4:6-7. From these verses, what are some of the benefits of connecting with God in prayer? How can prayer lead us to a deeper sense of God’s peace in our lives? 8. Are there any other verses that come to your mind when you think about prayer? How has the Bible shaped your understanding of prayer? 9. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Meditating on the Bible transforms our thinking and gives us the opportunity to experience a deeper connection with God.
Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What did you learn about meditation? 2. How would do you define meditation? How does the habit of mediation relate to transformation and deeper connection with God? 3. Read Psalm 1:1-4. What are the two ways of life that are being presented in these verses? What are the habits of the two different kinds of people in these verses? 4. What are the qualities of a person who meditates on God’s word? What does the example of the tree planted by streams of water suggest about the results of biblical meditation? 5. Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Does any of this sounds familiar? (See Matthew 22:37) What does the writer say about God’s commandments (e.g., God’s Word)? 6. What roles does the word of God have on raising children? 7. Where does the author say we are to talk about the word of God? What is the symbolic significance of placing the God’s Words on a person’s hands and foreheads? On the door posts and gates? 8. What do these verses communicate about the importance and centrality of the word of God? 9. Read Romans 12:2. How does meditation on the word of God help us not to conform to the patterns of the world? How does meditation help us to renew our minds? 10. What role does Bible memorization play in meditating on Scripture? 11. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 12. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Through reading and applying the Bible to our lives, we grow in our relationship with God and are transformed into his image.
Questions: 1. In week one we defined Spiritual Disciplines as the practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth and deeper connection to God. In your own words, what is the goal of the Spiritual Disciplines? 2. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What observation do you have about these verses? What words stuck out to you? What questions do you have after reading this passage? 3. What does it mean that “all Scripture” is God-breathed”? How does this set apart the Bible from other books and sources of information? 4. How is the Scripture useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness? 5. How does Scripture equip followers of Christ for the good work God has for us? 6. What did you learn about how to read and study the Bible in this week’s message? 7. Are there any barriers that keep you from reading and studying the Bible? What are they? Name a few ways that you can get more of the word of God into your life? 8. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: The goal of the Spiritual disciplines is transformation into the image of Christ
Questions: 1. What comes to mind when you hear the term “Spiritual Disciplines”? What do you know about spiritual disciplines? What are the benefits of engaging in the spiritual disciplines? 2. How does a biblical understanding of grace affect our understanding of the disciplines? Are the disciplines a matter of salvation or sanctification? 3. Read Romans 8:28-30. What is the purpose of God working all things for the good of those who love him? What does it mean to be “conformed to the image of his Son”? 4. What is the goal of spiritual transformation? What does it look like to be transformed into the image of Jesus? How do spiritual disciplines help this process? 5. Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18. What do these verses tell us about the process of spiritual transformation? 6. Read Colossians 3:9-10. What do these verses tell us about the process of spiritual transformation? What are do we put on and what do we take off? 7. Read 1 Timothy 4:6-9. What does Paul command Timothy to do in this passage? What does it mean to “train yourself to be godly”? 8. How does physical training compare to training in godliness? How is analogy of physical training helpful in understanding certain aspects of spiritual training? 9. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Through faith in Christ, we have new life.
Questions:
2 Corinthians 5:16-21. What grabbed your attention in these verses? What questions do you have about this section of Scripture? Was there anything challenging or encouraging? How does this passage relate to Easter? What does the Resurrection have to do with New Life in Christ? Read 2 Corinthians 5:16. “So” is a conclusion based on the previous verses. What is Paul talking about in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15? How does this relate to verse 5:16? In verse 5:16, Paul talks about not regarding other people from a worldly point of view. What does it mean to view people according to the world? Give examples of evaluating people this way. What does it mean to view Jesus from a worldly point of view? How do people view Jesus? Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ? Does that happen all at one or is it a process? What does it mean that the old is gone and the new is here? Name a few ways a relationship with Christ changes a person’s life? How does it change a person’s relationships? Outlook on life? Purpose in life? Hope? Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. As a result of being saved and being made new, what is a Christian’s new title? Describe what it means to be an ambassador for Christ. How is a person reconciled to God? What did it cost God to reconcile humans to Himself? What do we need to do to be reconciled? What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Dying to self leads to living in the fullness of life.
Questions: 1. Read John 12:12-36. What grabbed your attention in these verses? What questions do you have about this section of Scripture? Was there anything challenging or encouraging? 2. Read John 12:12-19. Describe the celebration that is going on in this section of Scripture. What is the significance of the palm branches? What do the people mean when the shout, “Hosanna”? 3. What does the celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem tell us about the people’s expectations of Jesus? How were they right? How were they wrong? 4. Read John 12:19-26. What do the Greeks ask to do? How does Jesus respond? What does his teaching about the kernel of wheat mean? 5. What role does dying to self have for a Christ follower? How does this teaching compare to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 16:24-26, Mark 8:34-37, and Luke 9:23-26? 6. Read John 12:27-36. What is Jesus troubled about? What do these verses reveal about the “kind of death he was to die”? 7. What does Jesus mean about the light and the darkness? What implications do these verses have for followers of Christ? 8. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Jesus’ sacrifice leads to worship, service, and community.
Questions: 1. Read Philippians 2:1-11. What grabbed your attention in these verses? What questions do you have about this section of Scripture? Was there anything challenging or encouraging? 2. What do these verses tell us about Jesus? What do they tell us about God’s desire for the Christian community? 3. Read Philippians 2:1-4. What is the “therefore” there for? How does this section of Scripture connect to the previous section (Phil. 1:27-29)? 4. What benefits of being in a relationship with Jesus does Paul list? What does Paul instruct the Philippians to do in response to these benefits? 5. How are Christians told to treat one another? What specific words does Paul use to describe the behavior that marks Christian community? How does this relate to the example set by Jesus? 6. Read Philippians 2:5-11. What does it mean to have the same mindset as Jesus? What words best describe that mindset based in these verses? 7. What did Jesus give up during his incarnation? What was his attitude while he was on earth? What was Jesus’ ultimate act of servanthood? What does the crucifixion tell us about the heart of God? 8. What does Paul mean that “every knee should bow”? What does this tell us about Jesus? How does a larger understanding of Christ’s sacrifice affect a Christian’s worship? How does it affect the way we serve others? How are worship and service connected? 9. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Sharing our faith is part of loving God and loving others well.
Questions:
Read Acts 17:16-34. What is going on in these verses? What questions do you have about this section of Scripture? What grabbed your attention? What do you notice about Paul’s words? How does he build a case for Christ using what he sees and what he knows of Greek culture and philosophy? Read Acts 17:16-18. What was Paul’s reaction to the idols he saw? Why do you think he responded this way? How is the culture of Athens similar or different to our current culture? How did Paul interact with the people in the synagogue and the marketplace? How might his message be different with Jews and Gentiles? What was the same? Read Acts 17:19-28. The people were interested in what Paul was teaching. How did Paul begin his presentation of the gospel? Why is linking the gospel to things people can relate to so important? Paul quoted two Gentile philosophers in verse 28 – Cretan philosopher Epimenides and Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus. Why did he quote them? What does this reveal about Paul’s understanding of the culture? How did Paul use the culture around him to present the gospel? Read Acts 17:29-34. How did Paul set up the gospel in these verses? What was his “proof”? How is the resurrection central to telling people about Jesus? How did the people respond? How is this mixed response helpful in understanding our own efforts to share the gospel? What do you think keeps Christians from sharing their faith? How do you feel about sharing the gospel? Think about a time you have shared your faith. How did it go? What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Take Action!
Nehemiah returns to Persia only to discover the people in Jerusalem have gone back to their old ways. They have allowed enemies in the Temple, neglected those serving in the Temple, compromised Sabbath rest, and allowed mixed-faith marriages. Nehemiah comes back to Jerusalem to handle the situation and get the people back on track.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 13. What is going on in these verses? What questions do you have about this section of Scripture? What things grabbed your attention? 2. Read Nehemiah 13:1-3. These verses are a wrap up of the events in chapter 12. What are the people committed to doing? What do you remember about the story of Balaam? (Balaam = Numbers 22-24 / Commandment about Ammonites and Moabites = Deut. 23:3-6) 3. Read Nehemiah 13:4-9. What is going on in this section? Where was Nehemiah? What did he do when he came back to Jerusalem? 4. Tobiah was an enemy and an Ammonite. Why was it important to remove him from the Temple storage area? How does this connect to Nehemiah 13:1-3? 5. Read Nehemiah 13:10-14. What have result of the people failing to provide for the Levites and the musicians? What does Nehemiah do to correct the situation? 6. Read Nehemiah 13:15-22. How were the people failing to honor the Sabbath rest? What does Nehemiah do? What action does he take to get the merchants waiting by the gates to leave? 7. Read Nehemiah 13:23-31. What issue does Nehemiah address in this section? Were you shocked by his actions? How had this problem affected the priesthood? 8. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Joy is rooted in relationship with God.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 11-12. What questions do you have about these chapters? What things grabbed your attention? 2. Read Nehemiah 11:1-2. What is going on in these verses? Why would the people be reluctant to move back into Jerusalem? Why is it important for people to repopulate the city? 3. Read Nehemiah 12:27-30. What preparations were made for the wall’s dedication? Why did the people seek out the Levites? Why is purification necessary before celebration? 4. What roll does joy have in the wall’s rededication? Why are the people joyful? 5. Read Nehemiah 12:31-43. Describe the situation on the wall and around the wall. Who is leading the groups? What are they doing? How was joy a part of their celebration? 6. How do you define joy? Can you think of any Scriptures that relate to joy? How is joy different than happiness? What role does joy have in the life of follower of Christ? What is the source of joy for a Christian? 7. Read Nehemiah 12:44-47. Why is this last section of chapter twelve important? Why do they focus on providing for God’s ongoing work? How does this ensure that the worship celebration would continue after the wall’s rededication? 8. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: God’s amazing love motivates our whole-hearted commitment.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 9:38-10:39. What questions do you have about this passage? What grabbed your attention in this chapter? 2. How does the prayer in chapter 9 set up the people’s recommitment? What are the people committing to do? What is their motivation? 3. Read Nehemiah 10:1-29. What three specific groups are listed in these verses? Why is it important that people in leadership roles are making this commitment? In addition to the leadership, who else commits to follow God’s laws? 4. Why is following God’s commands an important part of our relationship with Him? Does following God’s commands make God love us more? Does disobedience make God love us less? Why? 5. Read Nehemiah 10:30. The first commitment the people make involves relationships. Why do the people commit to marrying only people from the same faith? Why does God prohibit interfaith marriages? (See 1 Corinthians 6:14-18) 6. Read Nehemiah 10:31. The next commitments the people make have to do with how they use their time. What three things are the people committing to do in this verse? How do these things relate to their relationship to God? 7. What do Sabbath rest, allowing the land to rest, and forgiving debts reveal about the heart of God? How does this knowledge affect the way we live right now? 8. Read Nehemiah 10:32-39. The final commitments the people make are related to their resources. What are the people committing to do in this section of Scripture? Why is giving to the work of the Lord important? 9. Why do you think people are reluctant to give their resources to churches and other ministries? What does our perspective about money reveal about our hearts? (See Matthew 6:19-24) What does God want most when we give? What attitude delights God’s heart when we give? (See 2 Corinthians 9:6-7) 10. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 11. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: God’s great love and grace call us back to repentance.
Questions:
Read Nehemiah 9:1-38. What questions do you have about this passage? What grabbed your attention in this chapter? What do you notice about the people before their prayer? What do you notice about the prayer itself? How is God described? How are the people described? Looking Up: Read Nehemiah 9:5-6. Prayer starts with remembering God’s character. What do you notice about the way God is described in this section? What do these verses say about the glory and power of God? Do you start your prayers reflecting on God’s character? What words do you use when you are praying to describe God? Looking Back: Read Nehemiah 9:7-31. There is a lot of history in this section. The prayer basically breaks down several books of the Old Testament:
Abraham: 9:7-8 (Genesis), Delivering God’s People from Egypt: 9:9-12 (Exodus), The Law: 9:13-15 (Leviticus), The Wilderness Wondering: 9:16-21 (Numbers and Deuteronomy), Moving into the Promised Land: 9:22-25 (Joshua), Rebellions and Rescue: 9:26-31 (Judges), Kings and the Babylonian Exile: 9:30-31 (Books of history and Prophets).
What themes do you see in these various sections of history? What do we learn about God’s people? What do we learn about the character of God? How does this history compare to your own personal history with God? Why is it important to remember how God has interacted with us? Looking In: Read Nehemiah 9:32-37. In this section, the Israelites look at their current situation and take stock of what has brought them to this place. What do you notice about their reflection? Even in their difficulty, how do they speak about God? Why is this understanding important? Looking Forward: Read Nehemiah 9:38. We know from Nehemiah 10:30-39 that their new plan was to walk in obedience to God. What is repentance? How does confession and repentance relate to God’s people returning to God? Why is committing to live differently so important to genuine repentance? How is God’s grace active in repentance and in recommitment? What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: The Joy of the Lord is our Strength
Opening Thoughts: We are going to be studying two chapters this week. Chapter seven contains a record of the people that returned in the first wave with Zerubbabel. These lists are important, but we will only be making general observations about this chapter.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 7:1-3. After the walls and doors are completed, what roles does Nehemiah appoint? What does this indicate about Nehemiah’s larger purpose in rebuilding the wall? 2. Nehemiah also places Hanani and Hananiah in charge of defending Jerusalem. What qualifications do they possess that make them good candidates for leadership? Why are these qualifications important? 3. Read Nehemiah 7:4-73. What problem is Nehemiah trying to address by registering families? What kinds of people are listed in this chapter? Why would it be important to resettle Jerusalem this way? 4. Read Nehemiah 8:1-12. What is going on in this section of chapter eight? What do you notice about the people? 5. What is the role of Ezra, the other teachers, and the Levities? Why is it important for the people to understand what Ezra is teaching? 6. How do the people respond to the reading of God’s word in verse 6? What does their response tell us about their reverence for God? 7. The people also respond by weeping (8:9). Does this response surprise you? Why would the people weep as the Law is read and taught? What do the leaders tell the people to do instead of weeping? Why are they commanded to celebrate? What does it mean that, “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (8:10)? 8. Read Nehemiah 8:13-18. What festival are the people celebrating? What event in Jewish history does this festival commemorate? How do the people’s current situation reflect the festival they are celebrating? 9. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 6:1-19. The threats made by Nehemiah’s opponents have changed and become much more personal. What would it feel to be in a situation like this? How does Nehemiah respond? What is consistent about his response? 2. What questions do you have about what you read? 3. Read Nehemiah 6:1-9. What was the intention of calling Nehemiah to the plains of Ono? How did Nehemiah know they were planning on harming him? What does his consistent response reveal about his character and faith? 4. How is the unsealed letter different than Nehemiah’s opponent’s previous communication? What are they trying to do? What does Nehemiah say in response? After he responds to his opponents, what does he ask God to do? 5. Have you faced situations where others have tried to stop doing the things that God has called you to? What did that look like? How did you respond? 6. Read Nehemiah 6:10-15. How does the final attempt to intimidate Nehemiah differ from the previous attempts? How does Nehemiah’s response change? 7. Nehemiah response was rooted in his identity – “Should a man like me run away?” What did he mean when he said this? 8. How does our understanding of who we in Christ allow us to meet the challenges we face? 9. Read Nehemiah 6:16-19. The wall was completed in 52 days! Even by modern standards this is a miracle. What impact did the wall’s completion have on the Israelites’ enemies? Why did they become afraid and lose their self-confidence? 10. How does God’s faithfulness in rebuilding the wall strengthen your perseverance when you experience challenges in life? 11. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 12. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Confident faith in God’s calling drives out fear.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 4:1-23. The tension in this passage is palpable. Opposition from the outside and the weariness of the people threaten to derail the work on the wall. What do you notice the people opposing the builders? What do they say and do? What do you notice about the people building? How does Nehemiah respond? What actions does he take? 2. Are there situations where you have encountered opposition while trying to serve God? What did you experience in that situation? 3. Read Nehemiah 4:1-6. Sanballat and Tobiah insult and belittle the Jews as they work on the wall. What do they say? 4. How does Nehemiah respond to their insults? Does Nehemiah’s prayer make you uncomfortable? How does Nehemiah’s prayer compare to Jesus’ command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)? 5. Read Nehemiah 4:7-15. Nehemiah’s enemies are determined to stop work on the wall. They represent groups from every direction around Jerusalem. What is Nehemiah’s response to this threat? 6. How are the workers on the wall feeling? How does the presence of the enemy and the weariness of the workers contribute to fear? 7. Has weariness or fear prevented you from doing something? How did you handle the situation? 8. Read Nehemiah 4:14-15. What is Nehemiah’s response to the situation? What leadership qualities is he displaying? How can his example be an encouragement to you in times of weariness or fear? 9. Read Nehemiah 4:16-23. Nehemiah and the workers on the wall were under constant threat of attack. What was Nehemiah’s solution? What specific things did Nehemiah do to make sure the work could continue, and the people were protected? What leadership lessons can be gained from Nehemiah’s example? 10. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 11. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Rebuilding a wall to rebuild a community.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 3:1-32. As you are reading, try to pronounce the names out loud. What do you notice about the people mentioned in this record? List the occupations of the people who are working on the wall. What questions do you have after reading this passage? 2. In this section Nehemiah records the various groups and people who are working on the wall. Why do you think that he takes the time to record their names and work? Why is recognizing people an important part of leadership? What does this reveal about God? 3. Read Nehemiah 3:1. The High Priest and fellow priests are working on a section of wall near the temple. Why is it significant that they are working on the wall? Why is it significant the priests would be working on the Sheep Gate near the Temple? 4. Read Nehemiah 3:5. Not everyone participated in rebuilding the wall. Who is singled out in this verse? 5. To “put their shoulders to the work” is a reference to an ox putting on a yoke. Why do think these men refused to do work? 6. Read Nehemiah 3:10-11. It was common that people would repair sections of the wall close to their houses and with their families. Why would this strategy be important for the people working on the wall? How would this increase the people’s motivation? 7. Nehemiah involved people from many different backgrounds to rebuild the wall. Even under the best of circumstances this would have been a huge leadership challenge. What do we learn about Nehemiah’s leadership ability? What leadership principles can we gather from this text? 8. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: Prayer prepares the path.
Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 1-11. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? What people and powers are involved in this passage? What questions do you have after reading this passage? 2. The historical context of Nehemiah influences our understanding of this passage. The Israelites have been in exile since the Babylonians destroyed the city wall and the Temple around 605BC. Zerubbabel rebuilds the temple in 538BC, Ezra follows by bring spiritual reform, but the wall is left incomplete. What would it be to live in a defenseless city? How does an understanding of the context of this passage help to deepen your understanding? 3. Read Nehemiah 1:1-4. What two questions does Nehemiah ask his brother? What is Hanani’s report? What does is mean that the Israelites were in “great trouble and disgrace”? 4. What was Nehemiah’s response to learning of the condition of the wall? Why do you think that he felt that way? 5. Read Nehemiah 1:5-9. Nehemiah starts by addressing the character of God in his prayer. What words does he use? Why are these words important to an understanding of prayer? The word love (hesed) means God’s covenantal lovingkindness towards his people. Why is this love important to understanding Nehemiah’s prayer? 6. Nehemiah spends time confessing his sins and the sins of the Israelites. Why is this an important part of his prayer? 7. In verse eight, Nehemiah reminds God of his promise to his people. Why is this important to his prayer? 8. Read Nehemiah 1:10-11. God’s character and his people’s character is on display throughout Nehemiah’s prayer. What do you notice about God, his people, and Nehemiah in these verses? What is Nehemiah’s request? How does being a cupbearer relate to Nehemiah’s prayer? 9. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Main Point: As we pursue God, he Provides Joy for the Journey and Motivation for the Mission.
Questions: 1. What were the highs and lows of your Christmas this year? What things are you thankful for? 2. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? 3. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? 4. What does it mean to rejoice always? What is the difference between Joy and Happiness? Which one do you experience more of in your life? How can you cultivate joy in your life? 5. What does it mean to pray continually? What would this look like in your life? How does inviting God into every area of your life change your perspective? How could it change your daily focus? 6. How hard is it to give thanks in all circumstances? What are the things that keep people from being grateful? How is gratitude related to experiencing God’s joy? How can gratitude fuel our mission to live our lives for God? 7. How is pursuing a relationship with God connected to experiencing God’s joy? What things can you do in 2022 to grow deeper in your relationship with God and experience His joy? 8. God has given His people a mission. Jesus sums it up in Matthew 22:37-39. We are to love God and love people. This involves personal devotion and engaging in mission by serving and sharing the Gospel. By God’s grace, how can you live more fully into God’s mission? 9. What did you learn about God from this study? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 10. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?
Outline: The Wonder of Peace True peace comes only from Jesus! The wonder of the symbols The wonder of the theology True peace removes anxiety, and brings fulfillment and rest! A source of satisfaction A source of completion True peace involves conflict It divides people It brings conflict to hearts
Questions: 1. Did the Holy Spirit speak to you about anything today? 2. Peace is such an important theme of Christmas. When you think of peace, how would you describe it? What is the biblical definition of peace? How might it differ from what you have thought before? 3. What can you learn from the Jewish rites that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph went through in Luke 2:21-24? 4. What is most striking to you about Simeon’s words of praise to God (vs 29-32) and his words to Joseph and Mary (vs 33-35). What does this tell us about Jesus? 5. Think about Simeon’s life’s purpose. What are some realistic thoughts he might have entertained? What kinds of emotions might he have experienced in this encounter with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph? 6. What do these words mean? “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…” 7. How can peace come from conflict? Consider repentance and obedience, and how each of them might have produced conflict or pain within you?
Main Point: True joy is found in Jesus.
Questions: 1. What challenged you or encouraged you from the message this week? 2. Joy is a word often used during the Christmas season. How do you define joy? How is a biblical concept of joy different than happiness? Why is understanding the difference between joy and happiness important? 3. Read Luke 2:8-20. What do you notice about these verses? What words stuck out to you? Who are the people involved in this passage? What questions do you have after reading these verses? 4. Read Luke 2:8-14 What do you know about shepherds in the first century? How were they viewed in the Jewish culture? What is the significance of the angels appearing to the shepherds? What is their initial response to the angel? How does the angel’s message change their response? 5. What is the angel’s message to the shepherds? What is the significance of the words the angel uses to describe Jesus? How is the angel’s announcement a source of joy for all people? 6. After the angel’s initial announcement, a great host of angels appear. What is their message? What does their message mean? 7. Read Luke 2:15-19 What do the shepherd do in response to the angel’s message? What do the shepherds do once they have seen Jesus? Why do you think they responded this way? 8. What did you learn about God from this study? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?