FSBCS Audio Sermons: Recent Episodes
First Southern Scottsdale - Arizona
Leading Every Generation to the Life-Changing Hope of JESUS. At First Southern Baptist Church of Scottsdale (www.fsbcs.org) you’ll hear biblically-based and biblically sound teaching and sermons Sunday mornings during our Classic Worship Service at 9:30AM and our Modern Service at 11:00AM
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. In what ways does culture treat marriage as disposable?3. How does the Gospel shape how we view and treat our spouse?4. Which of your spouse’s needs (physical, emotional, spiritual) do you tend to overlook? What can you do to pay more attention to these needs?5. What practical steps can you take this week to "fight for your marriage"?6. How might your marriage be a witness to others of Christ’s love and hope?Scripture Passages:Acts 12-16
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What part of your “old self” do you still struggle to leave behind?3. How does understanding that God washed, sanctified, and justified you change how you view yourself today?4. Which of the “fruits of the Spirit” are you most excited to see grow in your life? Which one is hardest?5. Why is it important for believers to identify sin clearly, even in a culture that blurs the lines?6. How does your life give others a picture of the Gospel?7. What role does community (church, small groups, mentors) play in helping you live differently?8. What’s one way this week you can show someone else the life-changing hope of Jesus?Scripture Passages:Acts 7-11
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Why do you think Paul is so strong in his rebuke about going to court?3. What are some real-life examples where believers have handled conflict well? Poorly?4. How can we learn to trust each other more within the church?5. “Why not rather be wronged?” — What would that look like in your life?6. Which of our core values were most challenged or inspired by this message?7. What steps can we take to be people who bring peace and unity to our church family?Scripture Passages:Acts 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Why is it important to understand the difference between “cleaning up” and “being made new”?3. How has Jesus transformed your life so far, and where do you see Him still working?4. Why do you think Paul emphasized “if you hold fast” in 1 Corinthians 15:2?5. How can you share the hope of the Gospel with someone in your life this week?6. How do the church’s core values help us live out the Gospel both personally and as a community? (The Church’s core values are: Relational Connection, Biblical Belief, Transformational Growth, Selfless Service, Gospel Sharing)7. What does being “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) mean for how you view yourself and others?Scripture Passages: John 8-12
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What expectations do people (and we) often place on Jesus that don’t align with Scripture?3. How does the symbolism of the donkey challenge your understanding of leadership and power?4. Why do you think all four Gospels include this event? What does that say about its importance?5. In what ways can you “lay down your cloak” this week for Jesus?6. How can our church reflect the humility and peace of Christ in our community?7. What’s one step you can take to share the hope of Jesus boldly this week?8. How does this story help you appreciate the bigger story of the Gospel?Scripture Passages: John 3-7
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Where do you see spiritual immaturity show up in churches today, and how can we guard against it?3. Paul reminds us that leaders like him and Apollos were simply servants. How does this shape the way we view leadership in our church?4. What does it mean to “build on the foundation of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11) in our personal lives and as a church?5. Paul describes the church as God’s temple. What does this say about how we should treat one another and how we represent Christ in our community?6. How can we balance personal opinions and preferences with the greater call to unity in Christ?7. In what ways can we each contribute to planting, watering, and trusting God for growth in our church?8. How does this passage challenge us to live out our church’s mission of ‘leading every generation to the life-changing hope of Jesus’? Scripture Passages: Luke 22-24, John 1-2
Questions:1. When was the last time you were truly scared?2. When was the last time you were un-informed and it was a problem?3. What is our aim as a follower of Christ? Answer: To Trust God and Not The World's Wisdom4. Who is Christ (The Person) and Christ (Crucified)?5. Understanding that we are meant to "Proclaim Christ Crucified" how does that challenge change your everyday life?6. Will you Make Jesus Know in your life this week?7. Who is your One?
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What stands out to you in Paul’s plea for unity in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17?3. Why do you think division is such a persistent problem in churches?4. How does James 1:22-25 challenge the way we engage with Scripture?5. Why is it so easy to hear God's Word but not apply it?6. In what ways can our church better reflect the unity Paul describes?7. What’s one practical step you can take this week to build up, rather than tear down, those around you?8. How does our unity as a church impact our witness to the community? Scripture Passages: Luke 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What do you value in your life? What would you have a difficult time letting go if God asked you to? Why do you value those things? Why would they be difficult to let go?3. What are the dangers in depending on our good works/deeds?4. Pastor Chad listed several elements of the flesh that we are tempted to place our trust in. Which ones do you have difficulty resisting placing confidence in? Why are these tempting for you?5. Why do you need Jesus’ righteousness? Why can’t you find righteousness on our own?6. Paul talks about “sharing His sufferings”. Were you aware that we are expected to suffer for Jesus? How does this change your view of faith in Jesus? How can those sufferings help us know Jesus more?7. How does the promise of resurrection with Jesus give you hope to live for Jesus day by day? Scripture Passages: Matthew 21-25
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. How does fake spirituality (people who claim to be Christians, but don’t actually exemplify their claim in the way they live) ruin the witness for true Christians and the Church?3. Who are some people in your life (past and present) that exemplified Jesus to you and inspired you or taught you what true Christlikeness looks like? How did they inspire or teach you?4. Who are some people in your life that YOU are exemplifying Jesus to and inspiring and/or teaching what true Christlikeness looks like? How did you inspire or teach them?5. How do you live out and nurture selflessness in your life? How do you avoid selfishness in your life?6. What are some practical ways that we are called to “honor” the servants of the Gospel around us?7. Pastor Chad spoke about impacting the generations to come. Who can you invest in in order to leave a legacy for the future? How can you leave a legacy for future generations?8. What does First Southern need to do in order to impact future generations? What part should you play to make that happen?Scripture Passages: Matthew 16-20
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. As a child, what do you remember fighting about on family trips?3. 1 Peter 3:10-12 is a quote from Psalm 34. How should we live if we want to “love life and see good days”? How would our society answer this question?4. How does this quote from Psalm 34 sum up all that Peter has said in 2:11-3:9? What is the connection?5. How can you live the way 1 Peter 3:8-12 commands us to live? What is the role of prayer? Effort? Obedience? A deeper relationship with Christ?6. What is the model for evangelism that Peter gives in first Peter 3: 15-16? What makes this model difficult for you? Scripture Passages: Hebrews 12-13, James 1-3
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What marriage relationship have you admired? Why have you admired it? What was special about their relationship?3. When “submit” is used in the New Testament, it is voluntary in nature. How is this different from our modern interpretations of the word?4. Based on 1 Peter 3:1-7 and Ephesians 5:22-33, what is the role of a wife and the role of a husband in a healthy marriage relationship? What does a marriage built on voluntary submission and godly consideration look like?5. Read Matthew 5:27-30. In regard to temptation, Jesus uses a hyperbole (exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally used to make a point) to teach about temptation. What do you think He is teaching in this passage?6. 1 Peter 3:1-7 condemns the showing of wealth through what we wear. How would this apply to today’s followers of Jesus? How should we adorn ourselves?Scripture Passages: Hebrews 7-11
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever built something? Why is the foundation so important to anything that is built?3. What does it look like to “put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1)? How can you do this in your own life?4. In 1 Peter 2:4-8, Peter says that we are stones being built upon the ultimate cornerstone. What is Jesus’ role as our cornerstone? What does He do to provide us a foundation?5. Pastor Chad’s Big Idea this week was, “Your character in Christ is your credibility for Christ.” Why is our character so important?Scripture Passages: Titus 1-3, Philemon
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Were you ever bullied or made fun of? How did that experience make you feel? How did you respond to it?3. Read 1 Peter 2:10-17. Why is it difficult to follow these instructions?4. Pastor Chad’s Big Idea was, “Nothing values humanity like humility.” Why is humility so difficult?5. How does submission show others the Gospel (1 Peter 2:15-17)?Scripture Passages: Hebrews 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message:2. Name a Christian that sets themselves apart because of their characteristics?3. Retell a time when your family went through hard times yet faith and family became stronger?4: What does the world put their hope in? What do you put your hope in...is it drastically different?5. What does the alternative to not living up to are calling...(holy, family and forever) look like?
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. When you want to go out in public, what do you go out and do? What activities do you like to do?3. Read Matthew 5:13-16. How are Christians to come in contact and/or penetrate into society for the mission of Jesus?4. If your passion to fulfill the Great Commission was a light bulb, would it shine like a 300-watt bulb? A 100-watt bulb? A night light? Why?5. Read Matthew 25:31-46. In what ways do you feed, visit, help, etc. the people in your community?6. Considering Jesus' words in Matthew 5 and 25, how can you love people deeply, share the Gospel boldly, and impact the community with the hope of Jesus?Scripture Passages:Colossians 1-4
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is your all-time favorite costume that you have donned? What did you love it?3. Read first Corinthians 9:19-23. What is Paul saying we should be willing to do to reach others with the Gospel? Why?4. What group of people are you especially aware of who need to hear the Gospel? What barriers are there between you and those people?5. Pastor Chad spoke about considering how an unchurched person thinks, what they think, what they value, and how they think differently than church goers. With these considerations, what are some differences that you can think of?6. How should your approach to others with the Gospel change and/or adapt in light of this?Scripture Passages:Philippians 1-4
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What do you like to do first thing on Sunday morning? Why?3. Of the four actions commanded of the disciples, which one is central? How are they to make disciples? Of whom? With what resources? To what end?4. How did the reality of Jesus’ resurrection dawn on you? Were you more of a quick believer or a slow doubter? Why?5. How much authority does Jesus have to give to His disciples to fulfill the Great Commission?6. In what ways can you fulfill the Great Commission in the context of your family? Work? Community?Scripture Passages: Ephesians 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever missed an obvious direction sign or notice? What happened?3. Read Luke 24:13-35. What do you think it was like for the two men? What would it have been like to realize what the Scriptures say about Jesus?4. Pastor Chad spoke about all of Scripture is pointing to Jesus. How do you see that in the Old and New Testaments? Give examples.5. Pastor Chad gave several examples of biblical accounts that point us to Jesus through “typology”. Which example(s) have you heard before? Which example was most “eye-opening”?6. If all of Scripture is pointing to Jesus, how important is that to God? If it is that important to God, how important should it be to you?Scripture Passages: Galatians 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What did Esther have to fear by taking her concern to the King (Esther 4:9-17)? How do her fears compare to our fears of following God’s leading in various areas of our life (i.e. telling someone about Jesus, inviting someone to church, beginning to serve Jesus in ministry, etc.)?3. “You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem.” (Quote from Eldridge Cleaver). How does this quote apply to this Sunday’s message? How does this quote apply to the role that God is calling you to in His church and whether or not you actively pursue and act on that role?4. Read Matthew 25:31-45. Have you ever been hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothes, sick, or imprisoned, and someone reached out to you? How did it make you feel? What lasting affects did that act have on your life and thinking?5. How are those who do what Jesus is talking about different from those who don’t? What does this teach us about our responsibilities as followers of Jesus? What does Jesus expect of us, other than our simple faith in Him?6. Is there a particular demographic or people group that you are drawn to (i.e. children, teens, families, the elderly, shut-ins, etc.)? How can you begin serving in this/these areas?7. Read James 2:14-26. What kind of “faith” is James criticizing? Is the kind of “faith” that James is criticizing actually true faith? Why or why not?8. Pastor Chad has a small note in his office that he cut out of a newsletter 20 years ago. It reads, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Based on this passage in James, would there be enough evidence in your life? Would there be enough evidence if “going to church/Bible Study” was not strong enough evidence?
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What adults played a key role in your development and maturing as a child and/or teenager? How did they make a difference in your life?3. Read 2 Kings 22:11-14. Who makes up the King's Advisory Board for this Bible study project? Without consulting learned advisors, what does Josiah evidently know about the book already?4. What is Hildah’s role in this Bible Study Project (verses 14-20)? According to her, what really makes God angry? How does the news go from grim to good? How has Josiah shown true worship to God?5. What extremes have you gone to in your efforts to live a pure faith? What extremes do you feel that God is asking you to take right now to live a pure faith?6. Do you feel it's time to renew your commitment to God? How can you and your group renew your covenant with each other and with God? ScripturePassages: 2 Corinthians 4-8
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is easier to start well or to finish well? Why?3. What elements make disobedience more tempting?4. What should we do if we realize that we are living in disobedience? Is there a way out of disobedience and its consequences?
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is easier to start well or to finish well? Why?3. What elements make disobedience more tempting?4. What should we do if we realize that we are living in disobedience? Is there a way out of disobedience and its consequences?
- What stood out to you in the message?2. What is the most fulfilling job that you ever had? Why was it so fulfilling?3. How clear is your sense of the gifts that God has given you?4. Read Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, and Ephesians 4:11-13. What spiritual gifts do you see listed in these passages? How do you see these gifts given and used within your church?5. Read 1 Corinthians 12:7 and Ephesians 4:12-13. How have you used your gifts for the common good, and the building up and unity of the body of Christ? How can you use your gifts more for these purposes?6. What holds you back from using your gifts more fully?
- What stood out to you in the message?2. What is the most fulfilling job that you ever had? Why was it so fulfilling?3. How clear is your sense of the gifts that God has given you?4. Read Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, and Ephesians 4:11-13. What spiritual gifts do you see listed in these passages? How do you see these gifts given and used within your church?5. Read 1 Corinthians 12:7 and Ephesians 4:12-13. How have you used your gifts for the common good, and the building up and unity of the body of Christ? How can you use your gifts more for these purposes?6. What holds you back from using your gifts more fully?
- What stood out to you in the message?2. If you could explore any country in the world, which one would you choose? Why?3. In Numbers 13, what kind of report do you think the people were expecting from the spies? How does that compare with the news that they received?4. In Numbers 14, the people doubt God and His ability to conquer the land. Based upon the miracles that they have seen in Egypt and in leaving Egypt, why do you think they do this? What are the specific complaints that are being made?5. What about God's character is reflected or understood in the often-quoted verse 18?6. What directions has God given to you? How might distrust keep you from reaching these? How can you trust God more?
- What stood out to you in the message?2. “When it rains it pours.” To what scenario in your life might that saying refer?3. In Job chapters 1 and 2, how are the major players depicted: God? Satan? Job?4. Why is it significant that Satan has to have God's permission to do anything against Job? What does it say that Satan obeys the limitations that God places on him?5. Read Job 1:20-21 and 2:10. What in Job’s response strikes you as most extraordinary? How would you have responded in similar circumstances?6. What are the takeaways regarding God's sovereignty in our lives? How does God’s sovereignty give you strength to trust in difficult times?Scripture Passages:Acts 22-26
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. As a child, who was your favorite superhero? What could they do that you wished you could?3. Read Hebrews 7:1-10. This chapter picks up where 5:10 left off. What do we know about Melchizedek? How did Abraham regard him?4. How is Melchizedek’s priesthood superior to that of the Old Testament priesthood through Levi and Aaron? Why is this priesthood needed?5. Pastor Chad spoke about Jesus being both King and Priest, and that He experienced everything so as to identify with our struggles. How does this give you confidence in your faith through Jesus?6. What difference does Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice make to you in terms of your security with God? Your self-image? Your desire to follow Jesus?Scripture Passages:Acts 17-21
Questions: 1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What food do you find especially tempting? Why?3. Read Genesis 3:1-7. What portions of the serpent’s claims were true and were false? Why do you think he mixed truth with lies?4. How might someone today fall into the same tempting question, “Did God really say…?” How can this temptation and confusion be avoided?5. Why does God give the man and woman hope before He gives cursing? What does this say about God? What does it say about how He works with you in your sin?6. What can you do to live in the hope that God provides to you while you resist temptation?Scripture Passages: Acts 12-16
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. What does Christian unity mean? What does Christian unity not mean?
3. Are there relationships in your life that would not exist if it was not for Jesus? How has God united you with those people?
4. How can unity with other followers of Jesus affect the way you engage in his mission?
5. How can you intentionally engage in Christian unity with the followers of Jesus in your church body?
6. Why is unity in the church a powerful testimony?
Scripture Passages: Acts 1-6
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. Tell of the most difficult task that you were sent to do by someone.
3. Who is the focal point of Jesus’ prayer in John 17:6-19? Why?
4. What is Jesus’ concern verses 11 and 15?
5. What does Jesus mean in verse 17? What is its purpose?
6. How do your prayers reflect this prayer from Jesus? Are your prayers more focused on physical needs? Short term issues? Future concerns? The Gospel and the lost?
Scripture Passages: John 18-21
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. What going-away gift have you received or have given that still warms your heart or brings a smile?
3. Read John 17:1-5. What event is Jesus speaking about in verse 1? How will this glorify God the Father and God the Son (verse 1)?
4. How is Jesus’ deity emphasized in this passage? How does Jesus make sure that His listeners know that He is God the Son?
5. How does the fact that Jesus existed before the world began affect the way you live?
6. Pastor Chad said that, according to this passage, our mission is to lead every generation to the life-changing hope of Jesus? This week, how have you led people to the life-changing hope of Jesus.
7. How can you lead people to the life-changing hope of Jesus this week?
Scripture Passages: John 13-17
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. Have you ever doubted the veracity of something you've heard, or ever had a misconception that was corrected? Explain.
3. In John 20, how does Thomas' personality compare to Mary's (v. 13)? To the other disciples’ personalities (v. 9, 19)?
4. How does Jesus deal with Thomas' doubt in verse 29? What is significant about the way Thomas responds? How did your first confession of Christ’s lordship sound?
5. What doubts or questions about God have you struggled with? Which ones are you currently struggling with?
6. What have you found helpful in dealing with doubts?
Scripture Passages: John 8-12
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever doubted the veracity of something you've heard, or ever had a misconception that was corrected? Explain.3. In John 20, how does Thomas' personality compare to Mary's (v. 13)? To the other disciples’ personalities (v. 9, 19)?4. How does Jesus deal with Thomas' doubt in verse 29? What is significant about the way Thomas responds? How did your first confession of Christ’s lordship sound?5. What doubts or questions about God have you struggled with? Which ones are you currently struggling with?6. What have you found helpful in dealing with doubts?Scripture Passages:John 8-12
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. Who is one of the more colorful characters in your family tree?
3. What are you proud of in your religious heritage?
4. In John 8:48-59, Jesus repeatedly speaks about His relationship with the Father. Why does He do this?
5. Pastor Chad said that is only because Jesus is the God the Son that He is able to be and fulfill all of the “I am” statements that we have covered over the last few weeks. Which “I am” statement means the most to you? Why?
Scripture Passages: Luke 22-24, John 1-2
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. What kind of plant describes you best? A towering oak? Weeping willow? Tumbleweed? Crab apple tree? A thriving grape vine?
3. If vine branches represent the lives of people, what pain would be associated with pruning?
4. In John 15:1-11, Jesus repeatedly says “abide,” “love,” and “bear fruit.” How are these words related in this passage?
5. Pastor Chad said that the “fruit” that Jesus refers to probably has two meanings: our behavior (aka the Fruit of the Spirit) and the belief that we have and spread to others. Are you producing this fruit? Why or why not?
6. Compare John 15 verses 9 and 12. How are they related?
Scripture Passages: Luke 17-21
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. Have you ever gotten lost? What happened?
3. Why is it good news today that Jesus is preparing a place in his father's house for his followers to go to in the future?
4. How has the promise that Jesus is preparing a place for you affected your life today? How should it affect your life day by day?
5. What are some earthly appetizers that extinguish your hunger for eternity with Jesus?
6. Why is Christianity exclusive?
7. If Jesus is “the way,” do you feel you are on a bumpy dead-end street, or on a four-lane highway? Why?
8. In light of John 14:6, how would you respond to someone who says, “There are many ways to God”?
Scripture Passages: Luke 12-16
Questions:
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. What kind of bread do you like the most? Why? What is your favorite food with bread/crust?
3. Read John 6:25-29. How does Jesus tell the crowd to do the “work of God”? What does He mean by this statement?
4. What is the main reason that you follow Jesus?
5. What does Jesus mean by “eating my flesh” and “drinking my blood” (John 6:51-58)?
6. How would you describe your spiritual diet? Junk food? Frozen food? Baby food? Leftovers? Meat and potatoes? Pure bread and wine?
7. Has your familiarity with Jesus ever kept you from seeing who He really is? What can you do to remove the “blinders” that have resulted from this familiarity?
Scripture Passages: Luke 1-6
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. Has someone ever cared for you in a time of weakness? Explain how that care impacted your life.
3. How does Jesus demonstrate his love for us by telling us that he is the Good Shepherd?
4. How do His “rod” and “staff” (Psalm 23) comfort you?
5. Pastor Chad spoke about how Jesus died and rose in order to be our sacrificial and living shepherd. How does this reality impact how you see Jesus?
6. What have you been saved from and saved to as a Christian?
Scripture Passages: Mark 13-16
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. And Jesus says that he is the gate, how does that demonstrate his protection and care for his followers?
3. What does the follower of Jesus need protection from?
4. What significance is there in Jesus’ knowing his sheep by name?
5. Pastor Chad listed five ways that Jesus, as “the door of the sheep,” protects us (protects our faith, from sin, from condemnation, from wolves, and from being separated from His love). In what ways have you seen or felt this protection in your life and faith?
6. How does Jesus being “the door of the sheep” inspire you to share the Gospel of Jesus with those around you? Why do they need Jesus to be their “door”?
Scripture Passages: Mark 8-12
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. What is your most vivid memory as a child in a dark place (a cave, tunnel, power blackout)? What feelings do you associate with darkness?
3. What is Jesus really claiming in John 8:12? What does Jesus mean by “light” and “darkness”?
4. How is following Jesus like following someone with a light through a dark place for you?
5. How does the light of the world help us make sense of the world around us?
6. How do people you know misunderstand Jesus? How do their lives exemplify darkness? How can you be a light-bearer to them?
Scripture Passages: Mark 3-7
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. If someone asked your good friends from your teen years, what adjective would they use to describe you?3. How do you think your unbelieving neighbors and coworkers would answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” How could you use this question to share the Gospel with others?4. Define what the church is. Why did Jesus establish it? Why is it important?5. What does Jesus’ rebuke of Peter in Matthew 16:23 say about the importance of the cross in God’s plan?6. In what area does Matthew 16:24 strike home to you now?7. How does Matthew 16:26 influence the way you make priorities?
Scripture Passages:Matthew 26-28, Mark 1-2
Discussion Questions:
- What worldly things are you most likely to be preoccupied with?
- How do we prioritize God’s mission while still living in this world with many “earthly” responsibilities?
- What are some things we can do to help our gaze refocus on God’s mission of sharing Christ with the world?
- How do you think good deeds and sharing the gospel relate to each other?
Questions:
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever been confused by something that a person was trying to explain to you? What caused the confusion?3. Pastor Chad explained that Jesus was using the double meaning of a word to help explain the necessity of God to provide salvation. Explain in your own words why only Jesus can provide salvation to you.4. Jesus came from above to save us out of His great love for us. How much did Jesus give in order to save us?5. In light of Jesus’ love for all and the salvation can only come through Him, what do you think Jesus is calling you to do to help others know about His love and salvation?Scripture Passages: Matthew 6-10
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is your full name? Your nickname? Where did these names come from?3. Why does this Gospel begin with “In the beginning” rather than at Jesus’ birth?4. What facts about “the Word” can you find in verses 1-5? And in verses 10-18?5. Who or what fails to comprehend the light (v. 5, 10-11)? Why?6. From the image of “receiving someone” found in verse 12, how would you explain what faith is about? What is the result of this faith?7. From this passage how can a person come to know God?Scripture Passages: Matthew 1-5
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Recall a moment when someone corrected you or told you to do something, and you know that they were right to say this to you. What makes it hard to follow directions when you know you were in the wrong?3. According to Nehemiah 13, what happened soon after Nehemiah was no longer governing Jerusalem? What reforms did Nehemiah make upon his return?4. Why do you think Eliashib allowed Tobiah to stay in a room in the Temple even though he probably knew that it was against God’s law to do so?5. Why did Nehemiah act against Tobiah the way that he did (Nehemiah 13:8-9)? How is Nehemiah’s passion for God’s Word and God’s Temple displayed in this?6. Read Nehemiah 13:15-22. Why did Nehemiah feel that Sabbath reform was so necessary?7. Why was the marrying of foreign women such a big deal to Nehemiah? (Hint: Nehemiah refers to Solomon’s fall because of foreign wives in Nehemiah 13:26)8. What reforms that Nehemiah addresses needs attention in our society? In our church? Which is most contributing to the people of God drifting from Him: (a) not regarding the needs and authority of God’s shepherds, (b) not keeping the Sabbath holy, (c) marriages to unbelievers?9. How are the sins of Eliashib and Tobiah being played out around you? What are the ways that people within the church use their privileged positions to get what they want or neglect the needs of the church?Scripture Passages:Revelation 3-7
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Recall a moment when someone corrected you or told you to do something, and you know that they were right to say this to you. What makes it hard to follow directions when you know you were in the wrong?3. According to Nehemiah 13, what happened soon after Nehemiah was no longer governing Jerusalem? What reforms did Nehemiah make upon his return?4. Why do you think Eliashib allowed Tobiah to stay in a room in the Temple even though he probably knew that it was against God’s law to do so?5. Why did Nehemiah act against Tobiah the way that he did (Nehemiah 13:8-9)? How is Nehemiah’s passion for God’s Word and God’s Temple displayed in this?6. Read Nehemiah 13:15-22. Why did Nehemiah feel that Sabbath reform was so necessary?7. Why was the marrying of foreign women such a big deal to Nehemiah? (Hint: Nehemiah refers to Solomon’s fall because of foreign wives in Nehemiah 13:26)8. What reforms that Nehemiah addresses needs attention in our society? In our church? Which is most contributing to the people of God drifting from Him: (a) not regarding the needs and authority of God’s shepherds, (b) not keeping the Sabbath holy, (c) marriages to unbelievers?9. How are the sins of Eliashib and Tobiah being played out around you? What are the ways that people within the church use their privileged positions to get what they want or neglect the needs of the church?Scripture Passages:Revelation 3-7
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What do you associate with Thanksgiving celebrations? Pilgrims? Family gatherings? Football? Counting your blessings?3. How did the people celebrate the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem? What specific actions did the priests, Levites, and singers take?4. What are your favorite songs that deal with thanksgiving and gratitude? What modern music pieces would have been appropriate for a celebration like what is found in Nehemiah 12?5. How would you go about thanking God for shoring up the spiritual resources and health of your life?6. How are you, like Ezra and Nehemiah, finding, developing, and using your gifts to build God's kingdom?Scripture Passages:2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation 1-2
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What bothers you most about paying taxes? Why?3. Money is a touchy topic, but 2 Corinthians 9 tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. How can you be cheerful in your giving to His work?4. What excuses have you or do you use to give less to God’s work rather than giving more? What needs to change in your life to change this?5. Pastor Chad said that “Godly living requires sacrificial giving”. Have you ever thought about giving back to God as being a trust issue? Do you trust God with the money that He is has blessed you with? How are you demonstrating that trust to Him, or do you need to demonstrate that trust to Him?6. Pastor Chad used the illustration of giving someone $100 and asking for $10 back to show how God provides and then asks us to give a portion back for His kingdom work. Does this change your perspective on what the purpose of the tithe is? How?7. How would God’s kingdom work be affected if we trusted God more with tithing? How would this community be affected if we trusted God more with tithing? What is God calling you to trust Him with?8. What is keeping you from reaching the level of generosity and giving that God is calling you to be at? What needs to happen in order to get to that level?Scripture Passages: 1 John 1-5
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. In your childhood and teenage years, what did confession mean to you? What was required? How often? Who was involved? Why?3. How do the people first respond to the book of the law being read (Nehemiah 8:3, 5, 6, 9)? What do you think about this response?4. Why is it good to recount all that God has done for you and others?5. Pastor Chad taught about what the Bible means by being “hardened” or having a “stiffened neck”. What areas of your life have you been stiff necked?6. How important has the reading of God's word been in your own spiritual life? 7. How important has confession of sin been in your own spiritual life?Scripture Passages: 1 Peter 4-5, 2 Peter 1-3
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is the most satisfying project that you have completed? What was so special about finishing this project?3. What importance do you place on living in the mission that God has for His Church? What are you doing, or do you want to do, to come alongside the church to accomplish this mission?4. Pastor Chad spoke about the church’s new Vision Statement: Loving people deeply, sharing the Gospel boldly, and impacting the community with the hope of Jesus. How are you actively working to sacrificially love others? To share the Gospel with those around you? To impact the community for Jesus?5. Chapter 7 speaks extensively about families and lineages. How important is the passing down of faith to the next generation? Why? 6. What other qualities and skills are you working to develop in other followers of Jesus? In your children?Scripture Passages: James 4-5, 1 Peter 1-3
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever misunderstood what someone was saying to you or asking you to do? How did it play out? Were you able to accomplish what they were saying?3. In Nehemiah 5, what is the outcry from the people about? What is Nehemiah’s response?4. In what ways have you seen those with money and power oppress or take advantage of those who without?5. Nehemiah shows us that loving God and others may require personal sacrifice. What privileges and rights Are you ready to give up so that God's work may prosper? When have your beliefs really cost you something?6. Pastor Chad spoke about the direction that the church will be going and who we will strive to become for God. What is God calling you to do follow this movement of God in our church? Scripture Passages: Hebrews 12-13, James 1-3
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. How should a Christian navigate today’s dating scene? What makes it complicated or difficult?3. Hebrews 13:4 says: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” How can a person, whether single or married, hold marriage “in honor”?4. 1 Corinthians 7 and many other passages teach that a couple should fight for their marriage. How do you save a marriage after anger and bitterness, or when one doesn’t want to work on it?5. Secular studies overwhelmingly show that marriages that began with cohabitation are less happy and have a higher rate of divorce. Why do you think our culture does not teach these facts? 6. How can you help marriages remain strong? If married, how can you keep your own marriage strong?Scripture Passages: 2 Thessalonians 1-3
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. As a child, what did you enjoy building: Train sets? Tinker toys? Model cars? Treehouses?3. The Israelites encountered opposition to the rebuilding of God's temple. In what ways have you experienced opposition to your obedience to God and sharing the Gospel?4. Pastor Chad spoke about how God gives growth and that we are dependent on Him to bring it. When considering this, what growth do you want God to bring in your life?5. King Darius ended up restarting the rebuilding of the Temple, and even ordered the surrounding peoples to support the rebuilding by providing money and supplies. How are you supporting the works of God with your finances and resources? Scripture Passages: 1 Thessalonians 1-5
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Were you taught any prayers as a child? What was one of the earliest ones you can recall?3. What “spiritual disciplines” (i.e. prayer, Bible study, fasting, journaling, etc.) are valued in your circles? Why are they important?4. What disciplines need more work in your personal walk with Jesus?5. How can praying God’s Word help you in your own personal prayer life?Scripture Passages: Colossians 1-4
Questions: 1. What stood out to you in the message? 2. How can Jesus’ teaching about prayer change you inside? 3. Pastor Chad spoke about prayer being a personal, intimate conversation with our Father. What prevents you from approaching your “Father in heaven” like this? 4. Pastor Chad spent time on the phrase “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) and how it is a call for His Kingdom to change us; for His will to be done in us. How do you struggle to let God’s Will change you and your life? 5. Who have you struggled and/or do you struggle to forgive? Why? 6. “Jesus has forgiven you more times that you can count.” -Pastor Chad. How do you struggle to forgive others who have hurt you? How can the limitless forgiveness of Jesus toward you enable you and equip you to forgive others? 7. What keeps you from connecting to Jesus through prayer, laziness or lack of trust and submission? What changes can you make to overcome this and be a person of prayer? Scripture Passages: Philippians 1-4
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2.What type of communication style (i.e. face-to-face, phone call, text, email, etc.) do you prefer? Why?3. What makes prayer so important to your following Jesus? What does prayer help you with in following Him?4. What is your greatest challenge in prayer with God? What can you do to overcome that challenge?5. Has there ever been a time when prayer helped you through a difficult time or strengthened you for something that God was doing with you or through you? Explain.6. What heart changes should prayer be making within you? Scripture Passages: Ephesians 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. When has God led you into a journey that you wouldn’t have opted to go on yourself? What happened?3. The two witnesses of Revelation 11 are persecuted by “the beast” and eventually killed. What is the most difficult aspect of persecution? Where do you experience persecution? Work? School? Home?4. How does Revelation 11:15-19 give you hope?5. Revelation 11:18 speaks about the reward of the faithful. How often do we as Christians think about eternal life and heaven in terms of reward? What is the nature of our reward?6. Verse 18 speaks of the blessings to those who follow God and the Ark in verse 19 represents justice. How can the cross be both blessing and justice? Why is this true?Scripture Passages:Acts 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Who was one of your fictional heroes when you were a child? Why?3. Why is there silence in Revelation 8:1?4. What do you think is happening in Revelation 9:20-21? Why?5. In chapter 10, John eats a scroll that makes his “stomach bitter,” but in his mouth “will be sweet as honey.” How can the Word of God or Revelation of God be both bitter and sweet?6. How has God’s mercy and grace sustained you through this life?7. How do you feel and what do you think when you read this account of stranger-than-fiction events? What is the “who” and “why” behind what we read in Revelation?Scripture Passages: John 18-21
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What kind of horse are you most like: a Clydesdale? A thoroughbred? A stallion? A Shetland Pony? A mule?3. What do each of the four horsemen represent in Revelation 6:1-8? What is the warning that we see in their coming? What is Jesus trying to keep us from idolizing?4. Pastor Chad spoke extensively about trusting God over the idols of our society. What idols are Christians most tempted to worship today?5. What societal and cultural idols tempt you to trust in them over your trust in Jesus? How do you combat that temptation?6. What is the worst thing that has happened to you because of your faithfulness to Jesus and His Truth?7. Which seal opening makes the greatest impression on you? Why? Scripture Passages:John 8-12
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is the most memorable storm you have ever been in? What happened?3. In Revelation 4, where is John seeing what takes place? How would you feel if you were in John’s shoes?4. Imagine yourself in this scene. What do you see? Hear? Feel? How does this make you feel about God?5. Who is on the throne? Who are the other “beings” around the throne? What is the importance of each of these?6. What aspect of God’s creation best demonstrates God’s glory and power to you? Why?7. How does Revelation 4 make you want to worship and adore God more? Scripture Passages: Luke 22-24, John 1-2
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Within your house, are you more like a lion or a lamb? Why?3. Why is Jesus both the Lion and the Lamb (Revelation 5:5-6)? What is the significance of both symbols?4. Why is Jesus the only one worthy to open the scroll in Revelation 5?5. What is the response when Jesus takes the scroll from the right hand of God (verses 9-10, 12, and 13)? How is the Lamb described here? Who compromises the three groups that sing these songs? Why is this important?6. What do you think John felt at the different points of what takes place in chapter 5? How would you have felt and reacted if you had witnessed Revelation 5?7. What does Revelation 5 inspire you to do for Jesus?Scripture Passages:John 3-7
Questions: 1. What stood out to you in the message?2. If you could invite any famous person to dinner, whom would you ask? Why?3. How would you describe Jesus as He portrays Himself in these “7 Letters” to the churches?4. What do you think it would be like to eat dinner with Jesus? What conversations do you think you would have?5. What is Jesus waiting for at the door of your life?6. What is keeping your from letting Jesus in to dine with you? Scripture Passages: Luke 17-21
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What is your favorite cold drink? What is your favorite hot drink? Why?3. How does Jesus view this church (Revelation 3:15-16)? How does the church view itself (Revelation 3:17a)? Why the contrast?4. What does Jesus instruct them to do in verse 18? Why? What does this instruction say about true wealth versus the wealth of the world?5. Why is it so easy to get comfortable and forget our calling in Jesus?6. If Jesus took your spiritual temperature today, what would He find? Why? Scripture Passages: Luke 12-16
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever been locked out? Tell the story.3. How do the people of the church in Philadelphia persevere (Revelation 3:8)?4. What open doors has Jesus placed in your life? How has He opened doors in your career, schooling, relationships, church family, etc.?5. What doors has Jesus closed in your life? How has that impacted your life today?6. In what ways do you relate to the people of the church in Philadelphia? What ways do you not relate?Scripture Passages:Luke 7-11
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Name a team who had a great reputation which was ruined by a poor performance. How did that impact the team’s reputation?3. What is the contrast between reputation and reality in Sardis (Rev. 3:2)? What do you think this contrast means?4. What is the only hope for the survival of the church in Sardis (Rev. 3:3-4)?5. What does today’s church need to “Wake up!” from?6. If Jesus addressed this wake up call to you, what would He want you to strengthen?Scripture Passages: Luke 1-6
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. As a teenager and young adult, what person or group influenced you the most? How?3. Pastor Chad talked about how Jesus condemns a specific person that is in the church in Thyatira (aka “Jezebel”) and connected this Jesus’ warnings against “wolves in sheep’s clothing”. What can be the dangers of allowing an ungodly person or false teacher to remain in a church?4. Who or what “Jezebel’s” do you see in the Church today? What teachings and temptations should today’s follower of Jesus speak out against?5. Which of the qualities in Revelation 2:19 apply to you this week? Why?6. What are you “overcoming” (verse 26) right now in your life?7. What do you appreciate most about the promise in verses 26-27? Scripture Passages: Mark 13-16
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What are your most prized/valued possessions? Why?3. Does Matthew 25:31-46 seem more like a parable or a prophecy? Why?4. What does Jesus say are the six actions that He will use as the basis of judgment? What commonality do these actions have? What message is Jesus trying to get us to understand by giving these particular six actions?5. Why does Jesus say that when we do these actions to “the least of these my brothers, you did it to me”?6. When has someone in your time of need fed you, given you something to drink, took you in, clothed you, visited you during an illness or imprisonment?7. Who are the hungry, thirsty, poor, homeless, immigrants, sick, and/or imprisoned in your life? Which of these do you find yourself serving most naturally? Which are challenging for you?Scripture Passages:Mark 8-12
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. Have you ever eaten something that was tainted with something disgusting, or eaten something that had gone bad? What was your reaction to it?3. What do you think the Christians in Pergamum are having to deal with (Rev. 2:13)?4. What are their strengths and temptations?5. Which do you think is easier to endure: persecution by enemies for your faith OR the seduction to conform to the sins of the culture? Why?6. What cultural influences distract you the most from living for Jesus? How subtle are these influences? How direct?7. What weapons has Jesus given you to battle these influences? Scripture Passages: Mark 3-7
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. If you were rich, what would you do differently? What in your life would stay the same?3. What challenges is the church in Smyrna facing?4. How can they be both rich and poor?5. In what ways do you feel spiritually poor? And spiritually rich?6. How does "persecution promote proclamation" (Chad's Big Idea)?7. What does Jesus’ words to the is church teach us about suffering for Him?Scripture Passages: Matthew 26-28, Mark 1-2
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. What kind of religious symbols or decorations do you have around your house? Why do you have them and what do they mean to you?
3. Have someone slowly read Revelation 1:12-16. Maybe close your eyes while this passage is read. What do you see? Feel? What do these images suggest about Jesus?
4. Pastor Chad spoke about how Revelation 1 shows us Jesus’ deity and sovereignty. How does the imagery in Revelation 1 show us this? How does this imagery give you hope in your life and for the future?
5. The church is symbolized by lampstands (verses 12, 13, 20). What does it mean for a church to be a light?
6. Using the illustration of a lighting fixture, describe the spiritual condition of your church. Is your church a streetlight, a chandelier, a nightlight? What would help create more illumination?
Scripture Passages: Matthew 16-20
Questions:
1. What stood out to you in the message?
2. If you were a book, what genre would you be and why? Mystery? Sci-fi? Fantasy? Poetry? Adventure? Nonfiction? Other?
3. What is a revelation? In the case of the book of Revelation, what or who is being revealed? What is the purpose of the revelation?
4. Read Revelation 21:1-4. What does this passage say? How does it make you feel?
5. What is the point of the parable of the 10 Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)?
6. Why is readiness the most important lesson to focus on in regard to our study of the end times?
7. Why does this parable use the analogy of “lamps” that we need to keep lit? What does this tell us about our life as we wait for Jesus to come?
Scripture Passages: Matthew 11-15
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. What do you know about your genealogy? What would you like to know about it? How does/would the knowledge of your ancestors impact your life?3. Pastor Chad spoke about the different people in Jesus’ lineage. Which person from this list (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-37) do you most resonate with? Why?4. How did morally outcast people figure in to Jesus’ coming? Why did God choose to use these morally outcast, rather the morally upright? How does this truth apply to you as a follower of Jesus?5. In Matthew 1, what titles does Matthew give to Jesus in verses 1 and 16? What do these titles mean? Why does Matthew use them?6. These genealogies show that God’s promises are trustworthy no matter how much time (or generations) has passed. How does this make you feel about your faith in God? What does it prove about God’s control?7. Who are the spiritually significant people in your life? How did they impact your life for Jesus? How can you be a spiritually significant person in the life of someone else? Who is that person that you could invest in?Scripture Passages: Revelation 8-12
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. How do you think Mary felt when she was greeted by Elizabeth in Luke 1:41-45? How would you have felt if you were in Mary’s shoes? Why?3. Does the fact that Jesus came into the world through the normal process of pregnancy affect how you view pregnancy and children? How?4. Galatians 4, Romans 8, and many others speak about how God adopted us out of our slavery in order to become His children. Did you know you really are an orphan? How does this change your view of what God has done for you? How does this change your view of children, especially those who are less fortunate than you?5. Mary sings a song in Luke 1:46-55. What does Mary praise God for in this song? What does this song reveal about Mary’s outlook on God’s plan and purpose for the world?6. Of the attributes of God that Mary sings about, which do you appreciate or connect with most? Which one challenges you the most? Why?7. Pastor Chad spoke about verse 54 and the promised mercy that God provided through Jesus. How has God’s mercy affected your life? How has His mercy affected the lives of the people in your life? Who needs to hear of the mercy and hope of Jesus in your life? ScripturePassages: Revelation 3-7
Questions:1. What stood out to you in the message?2. As a child, did you say bedtime prayers? What were those prayers like?3. Read 1 John 5:13-15. What is the condition for prayer to be answered?4. How is the assurance of eternal life the key to: (a) answered prayer, (b) forgiveness (verses 16-17), (c) deliverance from sins (verses 18-19), and (d) avoiding idols (verse 21)?5. What has convinced you that true life is found in Jesus? (Think about what you would say to someone who does not believe in Jesus if they asked you this question)6. What have you learned in this series on 1 John? What themes has John repeated throughout this book?Scripture Passages:2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation 1-2