Sundays @ Journey Church: Recent Episodes
Journey Church
We are on a journey marked with laughter, learning, and love. While we take spirituality and our relationship with God seriously, we try not to take ourselves too serious. We have fun and try to find joy in this life that God has given us. We are convinced we haven’t arrived yet, so we continue to seek ways to learn what it means to follow God from the Bible and from those farther down the road than us. We seek to love those God has placed in our path, those less fortunate in our world, and first and foremost we seek to love Jesus who loved us first.
Many experts say we are in a loneliness epidemic with over 61% or 200 million people saying they are lonely. That number takes the total metropolitan area population of Phoenix, New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas Fort Worth, and Seattle and only reaches 1/2 of that number. That is a lot of lonely people. Chances are there are lonely people all around you. Chances are you are one of them. When you are lonely, what happens inside of you? What happens outside of you - or what do you struggle to do, stop doing, etc
Join us as our Elder, Joel, discuss the importance of suffering for Jesus with ch 1-3 of Esther
Pastor Cam discusses the importance of taking advice from people in different walks in life.
Pastor Carlyle talks about the importance of Pairing in life with a person as well as with God.
Elder Jeremiah shows us that even when unfiltered you can still give praise to God even in your darkest moments.
This week one of our Elders, Joel Thurston, teaches on Psalm 1 and the importance of meditating in Gods word day and night!
This week Pastor Cam talks about the importance of Fellowship. Fellowship is not just an hour in the Church but every moment of your life.
This week Pastor Cam discusses the moments leading up to Jesus crucifixion. He dives into the criminal Barabbas and how Jesus took his place on the cross.
Pastor Carlyle talks about Inconvenient relationship's that lead up to the the crucification of Jesus.
Pastor Carlyle teaches about the Sanhedrin and Nicodemus in preparation for our Easter Service.
Pastor Cam talks about the betrayal of Judas and Peter at the time of Jesus last hours before he is crucified.
Pastor Carlyle teaches through Galatian 6 wrapping up the hope that we have in the Gospel.
Pastor Carlyle discusses Galatians 5:16-26 and teaches what it means to be Living in the Spirit.
Pastor Carlyle teaches through Galatians 3-4 and the goal of living out the gospel like there is something at stake.
Elder Joel Thurston goes over Galatians Ch 2 and the importance of Preserving Gospel Truth.
Pastor Carlyle taught on what it means to be a contributor in church more than a consumer as we are called to in Ephesians 2: 1-10.
Atomic Habit #2: We are spiritually disciplined people in a chaotic world. Daniel 1-6
How much chaos did you experience in your life in 2021? How would you grade yourself on your ability to respond calmly to whatever situations arose?
Pastor Carlyle taught that spiritual discipline works to counter chaos. What are the characteristics of a drama king or queen, and how do they compare to someone who has matured through spiritual discipline?
Read Daniel 6:3. Spiritually-disciplined people stand IN with God when their spirits combine with God's to form the best version of themselves. When you face doozies or unexpected situations, how does the best version of yourself show up to bring calm to the chaos?
Read Daniel 2:4. Spiritually-disciplined people stand UP with God by acting with prudence and discretion. When they face troublesome situations, spiritually-discipline people talk to God and other godly people. How do you develop the right knowledge, timing, respect, words, systems, and relationship with God to respond to any situation in the right way?
Read Daniel 6:4. Spiritually-disciplined people stand OUT with God by remaining faithful even when everything around them descends into chaos. How do you demonstrate faithfulness through your consistency in thought and action?
We know God as much as we want to. Are you comfortable with your relationship with God or do you want to know him better? What have you done or what do you plan to do to know God better?
- Our present self is built by our past habits and our future self is built by our present habits. How strongly do you believe this (or not)?
2. Goals are DO based. Systems are WHO based. Habits should be system based. For example: When offered a cigarette when you are trying to break that habit…I quit smoking (do based). I am a non-smoker (who based). What are WHO-BASED habits you’d like to shift/change this year?
3. In our recent past (2020-21), people have become the enemy. (Biden/Trump, Mask/no mask, Vaccine/no vaccine, racist/inclusionistic, etc). How much of a habit has people division become for you? How has it affected your relationships?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. If Jesus had the habit for categorizing you because of you sin, and leaving you there, where would you stand in your relationship with Him?
5. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18. Jesus calls you a minister of reconciliation. You’re a minister! How’s that hit you?
6. How will you make relationships a priority this year? What reconciliatory habits can you “season” your relationships with this year?
In this episode we discuss our disappointment and frustrations with God and how we celebrate Jesus for WHO he is, not just what he does.
In this podcast Carlyle and Cam define what discipleship is and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Nick from International Justice Mission shares how we at Journey church comes alongside the marginalized and the oppressed - the poor, orphans, widows, and strangers among us and in the world.
Joe Darago from The Hope Effect teaches on our Core Value P.O.W.S
We love to come alongside the marginalized and the oppressed - the poor, orphans, widows, and strangers among us and in the world.
Pastor Carlyle goes takes us through 1st Samuel 8 and the importance of Revival. Step into the circle and start with a Revival of 1.
This week one of our Elder's, Joel, goes over the life of Joseph and how to live a life full of Integrity.
Pastor Carlyle takes us through the 3rd week of our Stories of Old series looking at two promises in the Old Testament from God.
This series goes into the Stories of Old in the Bible and reminds us how they apply to us today.
This series goes into the Stories of Old in the Bible and reminds us how they apply to us today.
This week Jeremiah Hernandez, one of our Elders, teaches on Genesis and the creation of humankind.
Over the last two weeks we looked at why we exist: To glorify God through making disciples that Reach Wider and Walk Deeper.
Half way through 2021 is a time to reflect to see how we as a Church can share our vision with the rest of the community. Our goal is to "Reach Wider and Walk Deeper"
This weeks teaching goes over how we as Christ followers are called to Reach Wider.
This week we finish up the book of JONAH... We learn how easy it is to have our hearts grow cold for the things of the Lord.
Over the next 4 week we will explore the beautiful and life giving truth about the Triune God.
This week Peter speaks directly to women who live in difficult circumstances. How do you follow Jesus in an unbelieving home?
How do we live as God's NEW HUMANITY in a broken world? These week Peter addresses the life of the church in Politics & Vocation.
We are wired for Hope and created for Holiness... This week Peter takes us on a journey of discovering how our identity in Jesus is formed.
Today Pastor DC kicked off our series in 1 Peter... Over the next 7 weeks we are allowing scripture to help reshape our view of the church.
Over the last two weeks we are looking at why we exist: To glorify God through making disciples that REACH WIDER & WALK DEEPER...
This week we dive into Ruth Chapter 2. A beautiful picture of covenant love and extravagant grace...
Pastor DC takes a look at Luke 7:36-50 a story about a meal with Simon the pharisee that gets interrupted by a prostitute.
Pastor David is wrapping up our series pulled from Habakkuk speaking on the faithfulness of God.
Joel Thurston is teaching us from Habakkuk Chapter 2.
Hababkkuk 2:6-20
The Final Word
1. When have you felt the sting of injustice? What did you do about it?
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Habakkuk has questioned God’s choice of using the Babylonians to be instruments of God’s justice, even though they themselves were unjust. God assures him that they too will get their due.
Have you ever seen something or someone unjust get their due reward? Did you feel vindicated or did you have some other feeling? -
Some relief that we can gain from Habakkuk is that we should know the God of the plan!
How does knowing God provide relief to oppression and injustice? How does knowing God while in oppression really help - especially while the oppression doesn’t seem to stop? -
The Lord IS IN his holy temple. That means that he is not absent and he is ringing in our present reality. What injustice are you most looking forward to God taking care of? Is this personal or bigger than that?
We’re starting a new series this week called Waiting In The Dark. David with be leading us through Habakkuk chapter 1.
HABAKKUK (Week 1)
Describe a time when you had a hard time making sense of life. What were some of the emotions you experienced?
What breaks your heart? What fires you up? How does that reflect the image of God?
This week we talked about bringing our complaints to God? Do you find this easy or difficult? What’s the first place you tend to bring your complaints?
Don’t answer out loud… What would you be most embarrassed about others finding out about you? It could be an emotion or an activity? Do you ever talk to God about those things? Why or why not?
Read Isaiah 55:8-9 aloud.
How does this understanding of God change the way you interpret the world around you?
How do you think God’s Justice and Mercy are both at work in your life? What about the world?
For Further Study: Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; James 2:13 Luke 6:36; Psalm 86
Pastor Carlyle is finishing up our All Things New series on a topic that may or may not be familiar to you. Spiritual Warfare.
Spirits, prayer, and armor – oh my…
Ephesians 6:11-18
- When it comes to the spirit realm, are you fearful and freaked or apathetic and don’t think about it much? Have you always thought/felt that way?
- Do you think there is space somewhere between freaked/fearful and apathetic? Do you think this part of Scripture presents middle ground?
- What do you think about the part of you that is spirit? How would you describe it?
- Have you ever encountered something evil, oppressive, and non-tangible? How did you respond?
- How does this passage tell us to respond to the spirit world? What is our part and what is God’s part? Does this provide a sense of relief, or does it seem ambiguous to an already ambiguous topic?
- Here’s a good quote: “The tactics of intimidation and insinuation alternate in Satan’s plan of campaign. He plays both the bully and the beguiler. Force and fraud form his chief offensive against the camp of the saints.” If you were dealing with someone with flesh and blood who used these techniques to bring you down, how would you respond? Does it change if it not flesh and blood?
Pastor David is continuing our study in Ephesians. This week is on chapters 5 & 6.
JOURNEY GROUP QUESTIONS
Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Marriage, Parenting, Work
When you think of the word submission what is the first thing that comes to mind? What has shaped that view the most?
Where is submission difficult for you right now? (ex. marriage, work, family, church)
How does seeing Submission as a choice, an exercise of the will, change the idea of submission?
Where has God placed given you a position of authority? What impact does that position have on your life? How does it impact your emotions, decisions, and actions?
How can you practically be better steward your position of authority or position of submission?
End your time reading Ephesians 5:15-21… What speaks to you the most? How does this passage challenge you to live differently?
Following up last week's topic of sex, Pastor Carlyle is going to interview a guest speaker for another hot topic: money.
Developing and Maintaining a Financial Ethic
Ephesians 5: 3 & 15-17
- How would you describe the difference between an ethic and a value? When are you tempted to fudge on either?
- If ethics were like a hole in a sifter, what are things where you have a small hole? Big ones?
- Some things in our lives are accidental first, then become a lifestyle. Other things are intentional before they become a lifestyle. When it comes to finances, if 1 were totally accidental and 10 totally intentional, what number would you give yourself. Was it always that number, or did you slowly move to that number (whether it was accidental or intentional…)
- Read Philippians 4:11. How do you do with contentment – in finances or just in general? What things feed contentment for you? Discontentment?
- Followers of Jesus are challenged to be kingdom builders. What kingdoms have you been a part of building - Jesus kingdoms or otherwise? Did they last?
- If you use your finances to build God’s kingdom, have you converted to doing that out of passion and love for God’s work or out of obligation? Do the 1-10 scale again. 1 is obligation and 10 is total passion and love.
Today we celebrate one of the biggest moments since the beginning of time when the Stone was rolled away and the grave was empty. Come celebrate with us!
Text your Easter family pictures to 623.428.2492
Text to give to 84321 or give online at JourneyChurchAZ.org/give
To dig a little deeper, here are some questions:
Easter - The Greatest Story Ever Told…
What is a story that you love and keep going back to? (It can be a book or movie) What is the main message of the story? How does it speak to the missing parts of your life?
The Angels asked the disciples “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” — How is this question relevant to us today? What do you tend to go to for comfort other than Jesus? (Pretend it is a bad, low faith day) Why do you think you look for life there?
The resurrection changes everything because it means that Jesus really is God, Jesus really had to die, and Jesus’ resurrection really is your resurrection…
If Jesus is God then it means that God is personal, present, and persistent in His pursuit of you; Which of those things do you have a hard time believing? Why do you think that is?
If Jesus really had to die what does that say about sin? In what ways do you tend to minimize your sin?
If Jesus’ resurrection really is our resurrection, how does that change the way we live?
What area of your life needs to be resurrected right now?
Pastor Carlyle is going to lead us through Ephesians 7.
Main question: What are you becoming?
Pastor David takes on week 6 of our All Things New series diving into Ephesians 4.
Questions to go deeper:
What makes relationships in the church so hard?
What are some practical ways you can fight for unity?
We are on week 5 of our series All Things New. Javaughn will be teaching from Ephesians 3.
Questions to dive deeper:
In what ways are you struggling to believe God's love?
Knowing that God has set up residence in our hearts, how does that change the way we live?
What in your everyday life reminds you of the vastness of God?
How do we overcome the feeling of impermanence to understand the permanence of God in our hearts?
Where do you lack the strength to allow God to permanently dwell in your heart?
What trials in your life are you going through that you know God is able to overcome, but you have trouble understanding how?
How do you need to adjust your posture to reflect that God still is superabundantly above the greatest abundance in your life?
This week Paul helps us to embrace God’s PLAN for the church: To make known the riches of Christ Jesus to the whole world.
If your life had a “caption” what would you want that caption to be?
This week we heard a story about Jesus calling his first disciples. He asked them to lay down their nets, follow him, and he will make them fisher of men. What do you think that looks like for us today?
Read Ephesians 3:1-6 together as a group. What is Paul saying? What does this say about God? How does this shape the way we live?
Read Ephesians 3:7-13 together as a group. How does Paul describe himself? What does that mean for us?
What are some of the gifts that God has given you? How can you use those gifts to participate with God in His mission? What are some painful circumstances that you have had in your life that God has used to help someone else?
Read Ephesians 3:10 aloud — what are some ways that we can take more seriously the role of the church in the world? How can we take our role in the church more seriously?
Further Study: Luke 5:1-11, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
ALL THINGS NEW: Grace Beyond Borders
This week Paul defines the GOSPEL by showing us: The predicament of the gospel, the power of the gospel, and the purpose of the gospel.
Journey Church defines the gospel as: “the good news of what Jesus has done to restore broken creation and sinful people to their holy creator. It is the true story of humankind’s relationship with God, which is marred by sin and restored by grace through faith in Christ alone.” Spend some time as a group talking about this definition.
This weekend we talked about the phenomenon of the ECHO CHAMBER. Why do you think it is important for us to recognize this phenomenon. In what ways do you experience it? What are some ways we can break out of the ECHO CHAMBER?
How does the gospel disrupt your life?
Read Ephesians 2:1-3 together as a group. Go around and share how this was/is your story? Why is it important to remember?
This weekend we talked about the difference between Legalism & Licentiousness. What side of the spectrum do you tend to fall on? How is this destructive to your faith and life?
Read Ephesians 2:8-10 together as a group. What is this passage saying? How does it change the way you live?
This week we look at Paul’s prayer for the Church; answering the question: How does Paul’s prayer shape our view of God and inform the way that we live?
What role does PRAISE & PRAYER play in your life? What gets in the way of your Praise & Prayer?
Read Ephesians 1:15-23 together as a group. What stands out to you?
When it comes to knowing GOD what is your biggest obstacle?
What is one thing that God promised that you find yourself going back to over and over again? What is something God never promised that you are tempted to put your hope in?
Discuss the differences between Worldly hope and Gospel hope?
This week we learned that Paul prays that we would know how valuable we are to God. Is that easy or difficult to believe? When is it most difficult to believe? How does the gospel help us to believe that?
When do you sense God’s power at work the most in the world? How does that inform your prayers?
Further Study: Luke 11:1-13; Colossians 1:3-14; Proverbs 30:5-9; 1 Peter 1:3-9
All Things New – Ephesians 1:1-14 Being In Christ
The good news of the gospel compels us to BE good news to our world!
1. What is the difference between theory and practice? Is it more than knowledge and living it out? What is needed for you to take a good idea/theory and put it into life practice?
2. Consider the difference between identity and activity? Which comes first for you? Are you more who you are or what you do?
3. What parts of your identity are secure, and which parts are not? How does this affect your activity (i.e., at work, at play, at home)?
4. Want parts of your identity are grounded in Jesus? How can you tell? Can others tell?
5. What was some good news you heard this week that was more than information or advice? How did this good news influence you?
6. Even bad news can be turned around with a good dose of hope. How hopeful are you? Where does your hope come from? How much hope do you have in the future and in what God is up to around you?
7. What are some real and practical ways that you could offer hope to people when they need it- not platitudes or empty well-wishes, but real things you could say or do? Rehearse some with your group.
8. How could your group help you with hope? What are some real things in your life that don’t seem like good news?
Deconstructing Power
The question we are hoping to answer is this: How does Jesus’ view of power inform the way that we live?
What is something you currently can’t do but wish you could? Why?
Read Genesis 1:27-31. What do you think it means to bear the image of God in the world? When do you think you are at your best in representing God? When do you think you are at your worst?
Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone abusing their authority (power)? What was that like? How did that make you feel? Or What power structure in the world frustrates you the most? Why?
Read Matthew 20:20-28. Make some general observations about this passage. What stands out to you?
Where do you find yourself wanting to be seen a certain way the most? (ex. Church, home, work, hobbies, friends, family)
This week we made a distinction between worldly power and the power of grace. Worldly power is pursued through Pride, Control, and Greed. Which one do you struggle with the most? The power of Grace is pursued through Humility, Risk, and Service. Which one appeals to you the most? The least?
Spend some time encouraging one another by telling them something you see in them that they might not see in themselves.
Further Study: 2 Corinthians 12:9; Isaiah 40:29-31; Colossians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14
Deconstructing Love: I Corinthians 13 1-13
Engage the world from love, rather than for love
- What is something that you really love? How did you come to love it so much? What does that thing provide for you, and do you love what it provides for you more than you actually love it?
- Engaging the world FROM love rather than FOR love might be a new way to think about the world. What do you think of this mantra? It doesn't sound half bad- kind of noble and cool - but how natural is it for you to do?
- Jesus asks us to live from the love he gave us. Read John 13:34-35. What are some examples of the love Jesus has given you? Include some stories of inner transformation.
- In 1 Corinthians 13, love “is” … This is a continuous and active, outward expression of doing things for others. Is this how the world defines love? How does the world tend to define love?
- How do you define love? How do you express love?
- Loving the world like 1 Corinthians 13 tells us we should is a pretty ambitious goal - it’s quite a list. What are the things you find the hardest? What are the things that mean the most to you when they are given to you?
- Who is coming to mind that you can love more or better? Are you inspired because of what loving them would do for you, or from what loving them could do for them?
For Further Reading consider how much love God has for you by reading these verses: Romans 8:36-39. I John 3:1-2; I John 4 (the whole chapter); John 3:16-17
The question we are hoping to answer — over time, is this: How do we live at peace with GOD, ourselves, and one another in an age of Anxiety?
Read Matthew 11:28-30 as a group. Make some general observations about this passage. What stands out to you?
Where in life do you feel the most anxious? Where in life do you feel the most hurried?
What are some cultural expectations that you feel like you are trying to live up to?
What area of life do you have the greatest sense of peace? (ex. Marriage, parenting, work, hobbies, health, friendships) What is unique about those areas of life?
This week we talked about trying to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus AND the lifestyle of everyone else, What are some things about Jesus’ lifestyle that make you nervous or are unappealing to you?
This week we talked about 4 lifestyle habits that promote spiritual, emotional, and physical health. These categories were: Sabbath, Silence & Solitude, Slowness, and Simplicity. Which of these is most difficult for you to wrap your mind around and which of these would you be excited about embracing?
Further Study: Psalm 127:1-2, Luke 12:22-32, Philippians 4:6, Mark 8:36
Deconstructing Individualism
During our deconstructing series, we are looking at common cultural beliefs and asking the question “how does the gospel shape the way I believe this?” This week we looked at the idea of individualism.
Do you know anyone that has walked away from the Christian faith? How did that make you feel?
What area of your life does doubt impact the most?
What is the hardest thing in the Bible for you to believe? Why do you think that is?
When you have questions or doubts about faith where do you turn?
God’s good design for us is to live life together in community — What are some personal barriers to living in community?
Read Colossians 3:12-14
What stands out to you the most?
This passage says to “Put On” and then lists some things that we are to put on; what do you think that means? How do we put on kindness, compassion, patience, etc.?
Read Colossians 3:15-17
We talked about how these practices help to cure a selfish heart. (Thankfulness — Scripture — Discipleship — Worship — Intentionality) Spend some time thinking about how these practices are at work in your life...
Further Study: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 4, Romans 15:1-7
John 15:1-12 - Sustainable Living
Sustainable living comes from a regular relationship with Jesus - from abiding with him.
Sustainability is avoidance of the depletion of resources in order to maintain a balance.
What are things in your life that are easy to sustain? What are some things that are challenging to sustain? What are the resources that get used up in those challenging areas, and how do you replenish them?
In John 15: 1-12 Jesus really wanted to help his friends live sustainable lives. What are some of the things in his formula?
When have things been taken away from your life that was hard to let go of, but afterward you experienced sustainable growth? Who helped you make those cuts?
How do you describe the idea of “abiding”? What are the things or who are the people you really abide with? Are these things or people adding resource to your life and taking resource away?
For you, in a really practical way, how could Jesus really add resource to your life? What is his part and what is yours?
Journey Church strives to reach wider and walk deeper. Do you agree that in order to reach wider, really we need to walk deeper with Jesus first? Can you think of an example that shows this?
What are the ways you want to walk deeper? Who are people you want to reach wider to?
More reading: Psalm 1:1-3; Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 61:3; Matthew 5:16
Living a life of legacy requires focusing on a fixed point.
Joshua 22:10-34
- Do you agree that perception is reality? When have your perceptions of things been off - when your being wrong ended up being a big deal because someone was hurt or you damaged something that you really had to back-pedal or apologize? How did you make up for it? What did it teach you about perceptions?
2. As you scan the horizon of your life, what “towers” of legacy do you see? Are they the same thing others see? Whose perception is most accurate?
3. What is one or two consistent things in your life that have been fixed points - unmoving points that keep you grounded, focused, and oriented? How did those things become fixed points for you? How often do you have to look at them?
4. Is God one of your fixed points? What is the evidence? Is the Bible one of your fixed points? What is the evidence? Is the Church one of your fixed points? What is the evidence?
5. How can you build your fixed points a little higher and stronger (i.e. bible study, groups, accountable relationship, etc)
Joshua 10:19-26 Jesus did not just save us from something, but also for something. David Comstock
1. What is one of your comfort spots? How hard is it to move out of that spot? What motivates you to not just seek comfort in your life?
2. The kings hid in a cave. The cave became their prison. When does what a person seeks for comfort or peace become a prison?
3. Moving out of comfort means to push back the darkness around us. What darkness do you see around you? In you? How do you push back? What happens if you don’t push back?
4. Love without power is less than it was meant to be (Andy Crouch author). As you ponder that statement, when has love with power changed you? How often do you love with power - not just as a parent - but as a spouse or a friend?
5. In your busy life, that justifiably needs some peace and comfort, how are you making room for God? How are you moving toward something that God wants for you that takes you out of your comfort zone?
Great Things Joshua 10:1-15
We want to be a people expecting great things from God as we attempt great things for God. Joel Thurston
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What has been one of the greatest things you have ever been a part of? How did you become a part of it? Who or what was the biggest factor in bringing that thing about?
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Joshua helped the Gibeonites because they had made an oath to them -the threat was not to them directly. How good are you keeping your commitments - especially when it doesn’t affect you directly?
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Read Ephesians 6:8 and Galatians 6:9 What are some of the effects of doing good things? Have you ever experienced this?
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Read Isaiah 54:2-3. If you asked God to stretch out your tent what would you be asking him to do? What would He be asking you to do?
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Read this about the sun standing still: Cambridge researchers announced Monday that they have pinpointed the date of the biblical account of Joshua stopping the sun — which they claim is the day of the oldest eclipse ever recorded — to October 30, 1207 BCE, exactly 3,224 years ago.“From their calculations, they determined that the only annular eclipse visible from Canaan between 1500 and 1050 BC was on 30 October 1207 BC, in the afternoon.”
“Independent evidence that the Israelites were in Canaan between 1500 and 1050 BC can be found in the Merneptah Stele,” the Cambridge University statement said. Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/3224-ye...
If you could be a part of something big that didn’t seem to be possible, what would it be? How could you take steps of faith to be part of something on a big scale?
Meaningful Distractions - Joshua 9
"With God - there are no distractions or mistakes that He can’t do something with.” Carlyle Naylor
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What types of things distract you? What types of opportunities entice you? Do you have a “Life Code”? You most likely do - a grid that things have to pass through before you give yourself to them or before you make a decision or commitment. If you don’t think you have one, ask your friends or spouse what your values are or what your life mission is. Be ready for their answer - it may surprise you.
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When you make a decision, what is your go-to grid? When you switch jobs, what makes you decide to do that? When you change houses, what makes you decide to do that? Do you think God cares about those things in your life? Why or why not? On a 1 (low) to 10 (high) scale, is the Bible one of your go-to grids?
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Would you say you have regular conversations with God? What are they like? What is the content? How many of your day-to-day decisions include some conversations with God? Where and how do you draw the line (i.e., what flavor of coffee should I have today)?
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The Gibeonites elaborately deceived the Israelites before they made a commitment/oath to them. They could have justifiably backed out, but they didn’t. How reliable is your word? How often do you back out of commitments?
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Israel and Gibea ended up having an alliance for hundreds of years. God, since He is providential and sovereign, used deceit and hastiness for a long term good result. When has God been sovereign and providential in how He brought something meaningful out of something that seemed incidental or even bad?
Joshua 7 - Interrupted Blessing
- Joshua was upset with God and kind of called God out (verses 6-9). How did God handle this attempted rebuke (verses 6-9)? God rooted out the sin in Israel’s midst (verses 14-20). Had God ever rooted out your sin? How did His grace also get revealed (i.e., you’re still alive!)?
2. Have you ever been caught up in someone else’s good decisions? What were some of the benefits you received? Have you ever been caught up in someone else’s bad decisions? Did you feel punished or penalized?
3. Do you think God was too upset by Achan’s bad decision? How was God justified /unjustified?
4. Have there been times when you felt unblessed by God? Could this have been a result/natural consequence of something you or someone else in your circle did? What does 1 John 1:9 say about this?
5. What does this story make you want to do (or not do?)
Joshua 2 - Let God use who you are
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If you could take something from your past and delete it, what would it be? If you could do that, how would it change your present? How did that thing actually shape you into who you are?
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What incidental things in your life ended up being important? Can you think of a time when something you thought was super important ended up being incidental? When did God take something you thought was unimportant, or even bad, and turned it something cool and big? Read Romans 8:28. What does this say about your past?
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Rahab took a really simple step of faith toward God, and God used it to rescue her. How would you define simple faith? What things in your life right now are testing your faith? What things would you like God to rescue you from? What simple steps of faith can you take toward God?
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With great risk comes great reward. Right? What is a risky faith step you have taken recently? What made it risky? How did it turn out?
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Rahab had a checkered past. But her future changed a lot. Read Mathew 1:5-6. Who was she related to? Read James 2:25-26. How is she commended? Read Hebrews 11:31. She is listed along with a bunch of heavy hitters of the faith. Instead of Rahab the prostitute, she became Rahab the saint! Are there things from your past that you let define you too much, when God sees you as a saint (because of your relationship with Jesus)? How hard is it to see yourself the way God sees you - as a saint?
Dealing with Change – Joshua 1:1-11
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
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How do you usually respond to change? Do you resist it, rebel against it, complain about it, embrace it, or what?
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All of your comfort zones were discomfort zones at one point. Do you agree? What were some significant discomfort zones in your life that later became comfort zones? Did you prosper when they became comfort zones, or did you just survive? What determines whether you will prosper or survive?
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New territory springs from old territory. When you think of new things in your life, what old things were still with you? What old things did you have to toss out in order to get on with the new things?
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Change works best with good resources. What things or people do you resource yourself with when change knocks on your door? Is the Bible one of them? How far up or down is the Bible on your resource list when you are confronted with change?
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Change works best when you actually change. What change do you keep putting off? Why?
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
38 And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
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When you become convinced of something, (especially something controversial or not exactly mainstream) how much of a fanatic are you? How do you respond to skeptics? How willing are you to take a hit for your new belief or cause?
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As time moves on from when you become a fanatic of something, does your enthusiasm for it change? What are the things that have kept you enthused for a long time?
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Read Hebrews 13:3. We are to remember those who are imprisoned. Did you know that there are more people enslaved in the world than in all of world history - 40 million? More money is spent on sex slavery than that is spent on professional sports. In Bangalore, India, people take out “payday-type" loans for emergencies and get trapped in labor enslavement for years, and sometimes for their entire lives, along with their families. How does this hit you? In the Philippines, many times families will sell their kids into sex slavery as a means to support their family. How easy it is to ignore something like this in your world?
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Have you considered sponsoring an organization like International Justice Mission who prosecutes enslavers and frees and rehabilitates former slaves for a new life?
Finishing our current series on Chasing Carrots, this past Sunday Pastor Joe spoke about finding the sweet spot of security. There are endless ways we pursue security—Glocks, savings accounts, home security doorbells and cameras, etc. Being secure is not wrong and there is a biblical and godly pursuit of security that requires work, wisdom and worship. These pursuits lead to God’s protection and a healthy security.
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How does hard work lead to security according to Proverbs 12:11 and Proverbs 13:4?
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How should verses like I Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 influence our attitude about our work? Who are we seeking to please? Who is our Boss?
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How do Proverbs 3:5-6 and 16:3 contradict our natural pursuit of security? Does trust in God’s plan and wisdom for your life currently provide you security? If so, how? If not, what should you do about it?
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What does worship of God have to do with our individual security? How does focusing our lives on declaring God’s worth lead us to personal safety and security? According to Romans 12:1-2, is worship something that primarily occurs on Sunday mornings?
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How should Psalm 84:10 influence our perspective on “security”? Is being “safe” more important than being where God wants us? Many Christians gather today around the world to worship God at great risk of persecution. Can we rightfully say that worship leads them to security? If so, how? If not, why?
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 The Message Translation
16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
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When someone you recently met or don’t know very well reached out to you to help with something, to hang out or just seemed to want to get to know you better, did it creep you out? When does reaching out cross the line for you?
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According to worldwide stats, loneliness is at epidemic levels. What do you think is the cause of this? When you feel lonely, how do you respond? Do you isolate, do you reach out…?
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When you have a relationship that experiences disagreement or you get your feelings hurt, how do you usually handle it? What does this passage say about that?
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Do you consider yourself a spokesperson for Jesus? How do you speak for him (with words or with actions)? How do you wish you would speak more or louder? How can you speak about Jesus things without being offensive?
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When you have felt lonely in a crowd, what does that feel like? What does it feel like when you feel connected with after you have been feeling lonely? One way to combat loneliness is to notice when people are not being connected with. Do you notice disconnected people very often? Do you initiate conversations with disconnected people very often?
Chasing Carrots: Identity
Ephesians 1:3-14
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
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In different phases of your life, what have been parts of your identity? Were these expressions or venues of your identity or actually parts of your identity? Is identity what do you or who you are?
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If our identities are determined by circumstances (things that happens to us) or relationships (like being a parent, husband/wife, good worker), what happens to our identities when these things shift - especially when they shift beyond our control?
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Ephesians 1 gives us some identity labels: Accepted (not rejected), Redeemed (freed for the future and not controlled by the past) covered by grace (inspired by love and not fear), and adopted (eternally connected to God). Are these good things to base your identity on? Which one do you like the most and why?
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Isaiah 49:16 says, “I [God] have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Your identity is set. When the world tries to hand you your identity, (like a name tag that says Hi my name is _______ and I am a ________), can you try to remember that your identity is already determined by God? What is that identity?
1 Tim 6:6-10
1. What do you do to seek comfort (i.e. comfort food, comfort zone)?
2. Comfort-seeking, while widely sought after, is not very biblical. Read 1 Corinthians 1:3-4. What does this verse says about comfort? According to 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and Lamentations3:19-27, where are we to seek comfort from?
3. Studies and stats also show us that seeking comfort actually doesn’t make us any more comfortable than if we hadn’t sought it. They also say that the human brain, through the inactivity that comfort-seeking produces, is not designed for prolonged sessions of comfort-seeking - it stalls the brain and interrupts growth. What is the difference between resting (sabbath-seeking) and comfort-seeking? When were times that confront-seeking got in the way of your growth or delayed your getting through a painful time?
- 1 Timothy 6:6 says that God-seeking combined with contentment is a really good thing. How would you rate yourself on these two areas of life?
5. How do you practice contentment? How hard or easy is this for you?
"God won't give you more than you can handle." #ThingsJesusNeverSaid
1 Corinthians 10:13
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Have you ever been handed more than you could handle? If you’re reading this, then apparently you handled it. How did you come through it?
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What does this verse actually say? (hint; "no temptation", not "no situation"). Is there a difference between being overcome by temptation and being overcome by situations?
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Even though being overcome by temptation or being overcome by situation may be different, the solution from verse 13 can be the same. What is the solution? From the opening title above, replace the second “you” with God. How does this change it? How has this changed your overwhelming circumstances? What is a real story from your life?
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What is the final result from the end of the verse? Is endurance the same as resolution? When have you had to rely on endurance in a difficult time, rather than resolution?
"Everything happens for a reason." #ThingsJesusNeverSaid
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When you have challenges, misfortunes, or are simply a victim of mean things, how hard is it for you to see it as a teaching opportunity? Read this: Cultivate a life-posture of learning and trusting God by deciding whom or what you will learn from or are taught by. So is everything that happens a potential life-lesson?
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What have been some of the best and deepest lessons you have learned from adversity? From blessing? Which has been the best teacher?
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Things happen for three reasons: God did it, you did it, or other people did it. Which is the easiest for you to trust? What has been something that happened when your first response was to blame God, or at least get mad at him, until you realized it really was the work of someone else?
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Verse 3 of John 9 says that God is up to work (toil/effort). This is more than a magic wand - it is strategy and logistics. From what you know of strategy and logistics in a plan, how long do some plans take? Can this help in trusting what God may be up to with the events of your life?
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Verse 3 also says that God’s work can be “displayed” This means "to be seen in a new way"? Is there something going on in your life right now that you can try to see with fresh eyes that trust God a little more and wait a little longer for His work to be revealed in your life?
"Do what makes you happy."
ThingsJesusNever Said
1. In today’s society, how much of a priority is happiness? How much of a priority is it for you? What are the things that make you happy?
2. What do you do when the things that make you happy conflict with things that make other people happy? Is there a common standard of happiness that applies to all humans and across all cultures?
3. The Bible actually doesn’t reference happiness. But it does talk about joyfulness. What is the difference between the two? Do you have more influence over happiness or joyfulness?
4. Read John 16:24. What does Jesus say about happiness/joy? What is it that ushers joyfulness into our lives? How do we actually do that?
5. What are things in your life that you thought would bring you happiness, but aren’t really doing that? Are there things you can do now that could bring happiness to your life in the future?
"Who are you to judge?"
Matthew 7:1-5
1. When was the last time you felt judged? Was it warranted - even a little? When was the last time you felt like you were judging? Was it warranted?
- Making a judgment (making a decision based on your history, knowledge and feelings) and being judgmental (casting some sort of sentence) are different things. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. Sometimes we cast judgement with an attitude, by placing people in a category, or dismissing/ignoring them. When have you done one of these recently?
4. We arrive at our own judgement filters based on what we have learned from our own stories. What judgements have changed as you became more informed or after you had some life experiences?
5. When have you been hesitant or scared to share your story because you feared being judged? As we learn more about people’s stories, we may end up being a part of helping them change their story for the positive. When has this happened for you - when did someone listen to your story enough to encourage you or help you move forward differently?
"We say 'if only I had more of this' or 'if only I had more of that,' but living in the land of 'if only' will only lead you to another excuse."
Judges 11:1-8 & Judges 11:29
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What was your favorite toy growing up? Why that one?
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When have you felt inadequate? Was it more of a feeling or a fact? What was the source of this inadequacy: lack of skill/knowledge, self-perception, opinions of others, being overwhelmed, or something else? How do you reset from feeling inadequate?
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Think about people who have wronged you, sold you out, or believed you to be less than you knew you really were (like what happened to Jephthah). When they change their mind and realize they want you (or need you), are you graceful or vindictive?
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Do you surround yourself with people who tell you the truth - even if it is hard to hear? How is this different from people who don’t believe in you and tell you negative truths about you? Read Proverbs 18:21 & 24. Are you this kind of friend to anyone?
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Even more than your friends, God knows you and tells you the truth about yourself? How do you distinguish God’s voice from yours or other’s? What happens when we hear and respond to God’s voice (what happened for Jephthah in verse 29?)
"A journey of a thousand light-years begins with a single step."
James 4:13-17
1. In the movie, the two main characters have a different approach to planning. Agent M was very focused on joining MIB since she was a child. Everything she did was an effort to get into that obscure agency. Agent H had been very successful but mostly fell into his success from his charisma. If this were a scale (agent M a 10 and Agent H a 1) where do you fall when it comes to making plans. Where do you fall when it comes to following through with plans?
2. The passage in James talks about planning. What does it say? What does it warn against? How good are you at submitting your plans to God’s will?
3. Agent H's and Agent M’s plans were both greatly inspired by their past. For Agent H, it was because a significant memory was erased. For Agent M, it was was the opposite - a memory took over her goals. How much of your past influences your plans? How is this influence a good thing - how is it a bad thing?
4. What things in your life are helping you reach your goals? What things are hindering you? If something is hindering your goals, do you discard it, or do you keep it because you can’t or won’t get rid of it?
- What is the one goal you are really focused on right now?
Galatians 5:17
1. Have you ever been surprised by someone’s shadowy side - a side of them that does something dark that surprises you? How dark is your shadowy side?
2. What does Galatians 5:17 say about our shadowy side? Can you relate to this struggle? When does this conflict rise up in you? How do you counter it?
3. According to Genesis 3:6, Matthew 4:1-11, and 1 John 2 15-17, our shadowy side gets empowered by a struggle for: 1) identify - I want to prove that I exist; 2)significance - I want to prove that I matter; and 3)pleasure - I want my feelings to matter. Can you think of a time when you shadowy side gained power and influence because of one of these struggles?
4. A great remedy to counter your shadowy side is to stop thinking of yourself (your identity, your significance, or your feelings) and remind others of who they are, how they matter, or that their feelings are important too. How easy will it be for you to do this when your feel your shadowy side fighting for control over a moment of temptation, frustration, entitlement, etc?
Acts 2:1-13
- Be honest with your first response: What would you do with three wishes given by a genie? How would you use this kind of power? Now that you have had a moment to filter your wish through your social conscious, would you alter any of your three wishes?
2. Read Joel 2:28-29, John 14:26, and Acts 1:8. What is Pentacost and why was it important to the early church? Why is it relevant to you today?
3.Prior to the New Testament Pentacost, this religious celebration was the Festival of Wheats - a festival celebrating the harvest of the first grains. This is cool history, but could it link to what Jesus did at the 1st Pentacost?
4. Is the Holy Spirit just a modern version of your own personal “ Rosetta Stone” language teacher? What did Jesus want the Pentacost to accomplish? Do you talk about Jesus, the Bible or the church with people outside of your “churchcy” circles? What are easy, inclusive, and non-offensive ways to talk about Jesus, church and the Bible?
5. Are you “using your wishes” for selfish purposes? Why? What would it take for you to wish for the power of God to increase your witness for Jesus in your world?
Pastor Joe Darago takes on the first week of our At The Movies series talking about Avengers Endgame talking about sacrifice.
"What if we were a people that fought to be the most sacrificial person in the room?"
John 15:12-17
1. What were your favorite parts of the movie? Why?
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In your opinion, what makes for a hero? Has anyone ever considered you one?
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Do you think people are at their best when they are sacrificial for others or when they take from others? With this in mind, how often are you at your best these days?
4.What kind of fruit is the fruit that lasts (verse 16)? What lasting fruit has someone else brought out of you? Have you ever been a part of bringing out lasting fruit from someone?
- Jesus was about to lay his life down for his friends (and for you) in this passage. A one time act is cool & noble. But what about the day-to-day dying for your friends…how are you doing with that? What kinds of self-sacrificing acts are you doing that no one really knows about?
6. What would happen if we were to complete with each to be the most self-sacrificial? Who would sign up for that contest? Would you?