Preached on December 13, 2020

Preached on October 18, 2020

Show Me the Life Change
(for the week of November 8, 2020)
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Note to Group Leaders: More than anyone else, you are aware of the size of your group, time constraints, the needs of your group, etc. Please read through the Scripture and material below and use whatever you believe will be most helpful to your group.
 
This Week’s Scripture: Amos 5:18-24
 
Key Idea from Sermon 
 
“God does not want our outward pretension. He wants our hearts and lives to sincerely change.”
 
Discussing the Scripture 

1. In verse 18, God asks his people why they are looking forward to the Day of the Lord. He says it will not be what they hope it is. Read Amos 5:1-17. What problem did God have with the way Israel had been living? 
 
 
2. What will the Day of the Lord be like, according to Amos 5:18-20? 
 
 
3. Read the following verses about the Day of the Lord from the New Testament. What does each say about the Day of the Lord? 

• Romans 2:16 –

 

• 1 Corinthians 1:8 –

 

• Philippians 1:10 –

 

• 2 Thessalonians 1:10 –

 

• 2 Peter 3:10 –

• Jude 6 –

 
 
4. Based on these verses, why do we need to place our faith in Jesus Christ? 
 
 
5. Read Amos 5:21-23. According to these verses, what does God despise? Describe the imagery Amos uses to make this point. 
 
 
What does Jesus say about this same thing in Matthew 15:8-9?
 
 
 
6. What does God desire, according to Amos 5:24? Why? 
 
 
7. Read Matthew 23:13-39. What is Jesus most concerned about in these verses? 
 
 
How do his words agree with the words in Amos?
 
 
 
Applying the Scripture 

8. How would you respond to a relative or coworker who said he or she did not want to become a Christian because of all the hypocrites in the church? How is their concern valid? Explain your answers. 
 
 
9. Why does God care about the inner condition of your heart (disposition, attitude, relationship) toward him, as long as you’re outwardly doing good deeds? 


10. What might a false “appearance of piety” look like in our day? Have you ever been guilty of presenting yourself as godlier than you really are? 
 
 
What were some of your motivations for doing so?
 
 
11. What are some reasons people try to present themselves as someone they are not? 
 
 
12. What are three things you can start doing today to help keep you from hypocrisy? ​

Professing for God
(for the week of November 1, 2020)
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Note to Group Leaders: More than anyone else, you are aware of the size of your group, time constraints, the needs of your group, etc. Please read through the Scripture and material below and use whatever you believe will be most helpful to your group.
 
This Week’s Scripture: Micah 3 and 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13
 
Key Idea from Sermon 
 
“A prophet is one who speaks with authority given by God to speak for what is right and against what is wrong.”
 
Discussing the Scripture 

1. Read Micah 3. This chapter includes three judgments against Israel’s leadership – their prophets, priests, and rulers. List the accusations against the… 

• Rulers/Leaders –

 
 

• Prophets –

 
 

• Priests –

 
 
 
2. What is God’s sentence against the… 

• Rulers/Leaders –

 
 

• Prophets –

 

• Priests –

 
 
 
3. How should these shepherds (prophets, priests, and rulers) of God’s people be leading their people. What sources would you appeal to from the Old Testament? 
 
 
4. Why is this mistreatment from God’s prophets and priests especially heinous and sinful? 
 
 
5. How do you feel about God’s judgment on his prophets, priests, and rulers? 
 
 
6. How does Micah, a true and godly prophet of God, describe himself in Micah 3:8? 
 
 
7. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13. How does Paul describe their (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) ministry among the Thessalonians? 
 
 
8. What are the contrasts between God’s unfaithful representatives in Micah 3 and Micah (Micah 3:8), Paul, Silas, and Timothy? 
 
 
9. How did the people respond to the ministry of Paul and his associates? 
 
 
Applying the Scripture 

10. As Christians, we have all been given a certain authority when we speak and live out the Word of God before a watching world. How does that statement make you feel?


11. What impact can unfaithfulness and ungodliness by those who lead the church have in a church community? 
 
 
12. What impact can that same unfaithfulness and ungodliness have outside the church community? 
 
 
13. Put together a list of those who lead our church family and begin to pray regularly for them. 


 
ACTS (A prayer guide for this lesson) 
​

• A – Adoration (What did you learn about God in this lesson? Offer some words of praise and adoration for what you learned about God.)

 

• C – Confession (Was there a sin or struggle this lesson helped you see in yourself more clearly. Confess this to God and ask him to help you turn from it and toward greater spiritual growth. Read 1 John 1:9)

 

• T – Thanksgiving (What spiritual truth did you learn in this lesson? Spend time thanking God for revealing it to you.)

 

• S – Supplication (Pray for any needs of the members of your group, including their spiritual needs.)

 
John Wesley’s Questions for Self-Examination 

• Morning
  • What tasks and encounters will I face today, and how may I prepare myself to bring honor and pleasure to God in them?

 

• Evening
  • Have I yielded to my neighbor the right to have the last word in a disagreement?
  • How have I sought to use this day to grow in my humility?

Believers and Nonbelievers
(for the week of October 25, 2020)
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Note to Group Leaders: More than anyone else, you are aware of the size of your group, time constraints, the needs of your group, etc. Please read through the Scripture and material below and use whatever you believe will be most helpful to your group.
 
This Week’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
 
Key Idea from Sermon 
 
“Believers in Jesus Christ are called to live in the world, but not of it.”
 
Discussing the Scripture 

1. Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. What would you say Paul’s general theme in these verses is? Why do you think he wrote these verses? (In other words, what do you think his concern was?) (See also, 1 Corinthians 10:21)  
 

2. Write out each of Paul’s five rhetorical questions he asks in verses 14-16. What appears to be the implied answer in each of his questions?  
 

3. In verse 14, “Paul is not addressing the issue of marriage between believers and unbelievers here; rather, he is urging the Corinthians to avoid aligning themselves with those who view him (and others) according to false standards. In allowing these unbelievers to have influence, the Corinthians cause rebellion against Paul and dissolve the unity of the church in Corinth” (Faithlife Study Bible).  

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16. How might being joined (or, yoked) together with the “false standards” of nonbelievers negatively impact the church-at-large, or individual Christians?
 

4. What are some examples of the world’s “false standards”? Can you think of any that Christians have adopted? The church-at-large?  
 

5. Read 1 John 2:15-17. How do John’s words support Paul’s teaching in this lesson’s Scripture?  
 

6. John 3:16 declares that God loves the world so much that he sent his only Son to redeem it. Yet, 1 John 2:15 says we are not to love the world. How would you explain this apparent disagreement?  
 

7. Read John 17:13-19. What does Jesus say in these verses about the relationship between the “world” to Jesus and his disciples? Explain what he means. How do these words relate to the Apostle Paul’s words in this lesson’s Scripture?  
 

8. An oft-used phrase is that Christians are called to “live in the world but not of it.” Explain what you believe that means.  
 
 
According to Jesus’ words from Question 7, how can a believer faithfully remain “in the world, but not of it?”
 
 

9. In verse 16, Paul says we are the temple of the living God. This “refers to the whole body of Christ, the total Christian community” (NIV Study Bible). In verses 16-18, Paul quotes the Old Testament promises that declare if God’s people remain faithful to him by separating themselves from the surrounding influence of the world, he will receive us and be a Father to us.  

How can we show our love for those in the world without compromising with the world’s standards?
 
 

10. How can believers faithfully live according to God’s standards without appearing judgmental to those of the world we are seeking to love?  
 
 
Applying the Scripture 

11. What is the hardest part for you about “living in the world, but not of it?”  
 

12. What makes that difficult for you?   
 

13. What are some ways church members can support one another to live faithful Christian lives in a world that may resist God’s standards?  
 

14. How can we love and serve our neighbors and bear witness to the grace and truth of Christ, without offending them in our sensitive cultural climate? Is it even possible?  
 

15. List three nonbelievers you know and begin praying for them each day. Ask the Lord to begin the work of drawing them to himself. Pray for opportunities to love and serve them with Christlike words and deeds.  
 
 
 
ACTS (A prayer guide for this lesson) 

• A – Adoration (What did you learn about God in this lesson? Offer some words of praise and adoration for what you learned about God.)

 

• C – Confession (Was there a sin or struggle this lesson helped you see in yourself more clearly. Confess this to God and ask him to help you turn from it and toward greater spiritual growth. Read 1 John 1:9)

 

• T – Thanksgiving (What spiritual truth did you learn in this lesson? Spend time thanking God for revealing it to you.)

 

• S – Supplication (Pray for any needs of the members of your group, including their spiritual needs.)

 
John Wesley’s Questions for Self-Examination 

• Morning
  • Was God my last thought before sleeping and my first thought upon waking?

 

• Evening
  • Have I allowed myself to feel and share my neighbor’s joy or sorrow?
  • Have I responded to my neighbor’s weaknesses with understanding rather than with irritation?

 
​

Here's our worship service for October 18, 2020. The sermon is on Acts 2:42-47 and is entitled, "The Devoted Life."

The Devoted Life
(for the week of October 18, 2020)
PDF at bottom
 
Note to Group Leaders: More than anyone else, you are aware of the size of your group, time constraints, the needs of your group, etc. Please read through the Scripture and material below and use whatever you believe will be most helpful to your group.
 
This Week’s Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
 
Key Idea from Sermon
 
“New life in Christ will fill us with devotion to better know and love God so we can better love and serve others. God will bring the increase to his Kingdom.”
 
Discussing the Scripture 

1. The Book of Acts is often called, “the Acts of the Apostles.” Read the following verses and write down your suggestion for another title (Acts 1:4-5; 1:8; 2:4; 2:17; 2:33; 4:8; 4:31; 6:3; 6:10; 8:17; 9:17)?  
 
2. Read Acts 2:1-41. What happened to bring all these new followers of Jesus Christ together in Acts 2:42-47? 
 
3. Verse 42 says these new believers devoted themselves to four activities. Look up the word “devoted” in a dictionary. What does it mean? Why do you think they were so devoted? Why is such devotion important for a follower of Jesus? 
 
4. List the four activities that verse 42 says these new believers were devoted to.  
 
5. What would the “apostles’ teaching” have included? (Read Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:25-26, John 16:12-13, and Acts 1:3 for ideas.) What does the “apostles’ teaching” include today? 
 
6. The Greek word for “fellowship” is, koinonia. It means sharing and participating in a common goal. One commentator said it was an intentional and intimate experience, where the believers shared together “in material goods as well as spiritual wealth.” What does Acts 2:42-47 suggests that fellowship looked like? 
 
7. The reference to “breaking of bread” in verse 2, is twofold. It means both enjoying a common meal together as well as the Lord’s Supper. Why would both have been so important to the early Christians? Why are both so vital for Christians today? 
 
8. Verse 42 tells us these new believers also devoted themselves to prayer. The Greek word here actually means, “the prayers.” This tells us that not only did they pray individually but also together as a community. Why is that so significant in the life of a Christian community? 
 
9. Verse 43 points out that God strengthened this new community of believers with the presence of supernatural miracles performed by the apostles, which filled the people with awe. Why do you think God did this? 
 
10. What do verses 44-46 report as the result of the devoted life of this new Christian community? 
 
11. And what does verse 47 say was the result of verses 42-46? Who ultimately produced that fruit of the Kingdom of God? (Bonus Question: How would you write this out as a mathematical equation?) 
 
Applying the Scripture 

12. Can Christians today have the same level of devotion as these early believers did? Why or why not? Do you? Why or why not? 
 
13. How can you devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching?  
 
14. How can you devote yourself to Christian fellowship? 
 
15. How can you devote yourself to “the breaking of bread” (Lord’s Supper) (Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 for some insight)? 
 
16. How can you devote yourself to private and corporate prayer? 
 
17. Whose help will you need to be so devoted? (not a trick question) 
 
ACTS (A prayer guide for this lesson) 

• A – Adoration (What did you learn about the Holy Spirit in this lesson? Offer some words of praise and adoration for what you learned about the Spirit.)

 

• C – Confession (Was there a sin or struggle this lesson helped you see in yourself more clearly. Confess this to God and ask him to help you turn from it and toward greater spiritual growth. Read 1 John 1:9)

 

• T – Thanksgiving (What spiritual truth did you learn in this lesson? Spend time thanking God for revealing it to you.)

 

• S – Supplication (Pray for any needs of the members of your group, including their spiritual needs.)

 
John Wesley’s Questions for Self-Examination
 

• Morning
  • Consider the people you will encounter today. How can you bring them encouragement, a word of grace, a needed kindness? Consider people with whom you have a strained relationship. How can you equip yourself to show love to these?

 
 

• Evening
  • How did I spend the time that was not occupied with prayer, reading, and meditation? Did I honor God and promote spiritual refreshment throughout the day’s activity?
  • How have I sought to use this day to grow in love for my neighbor?