Blog

TEACHING: Before the Throne, Part 4

Why does all hell break loose when we try to enter into prayer? Because prayer is war, and the lack of prayer is nothing less than a declaration of independence from God.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing from this message that was particularly helpful or insightful? What was one thing that was difficult to understand or put into practice?
2. Read and discuss Matthew 26:36-46.  What do you see about the nature of man? What do these verses tell you about the nature & person of Jesus? What do you observe about prayer in these verses?
3. “Prayer is war.” What does this mean? Have you found this to be true?
4. Pastor Mike highlights several other hindrances to entering in to prayer: “Prayer is too hard.” “I rarely get what I ask for.” “I can’t find the time.” “Prayer is boring.” “I get distracted.” “I can’t see the Person I’m talking to.” “I can’t hear a response.” “I don’t need to pray about ____. That will never happen to me – I’ve got this under control.” Which of those hindrances do you struggle with?
5. What other hindrances to prayer can you think of?
6. How does being strategically specific help us engage in prayer?
7. Can you think of a prayer that God did not answer, then discovered later it was for the best?
8. Through this series, what have you learned about the importance & benefits of prayer? By contrast, what are the detriments of not praying?
9. How do you feel you need to grow in the area of prayer? What will you do to pursue this – what’s your plan? Spend some time in prayer asking God to make you a person of consistent prayer, and our church a church of constant prayer.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

God Is Able (Ephesians 3:20-21) – God Is Able by Hillsong

Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Psalm 16:11) – Original Arrangement

Mighty To Save (Zephaniah 3:17) – Yahweh by Hillsong Chapel

Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) (Psalm 27:1) – Let The Future Begin by Chris Tomlin (Passion)

TEACHING: Before the Throne, Part 3

What happens when we pray?

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. If you had to give a one-sentence synopsis of this message, what would you say?
2. Read and discuss Acts 10:1-43.  What do you see about the nature of man? What do these verses tell you about the nature & person of God? How would you compare & contrast Peter & Cornelius? What do you observe about prayer and how God uses or responds to prayer?
3. What is the difference between “descriptive” and “prescriptive” in regards to Scripture?
4. In the verses from Acts 10, what can you identify as descriptive and what can you identify as prescriptive?
5. Are there dangers in “hearing from God”? How can we know if we are actually hearing from God?
6. Have you ever heard from God as a direct answer to a specific prayer? What happened?
7. Are you currently waiting to hear from God on something specific? How do you want Him to respond? As best you can discern, what are your motivations in this? Spend some time together in prayer asking God to align your motives to His.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Alive In Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God Is Able by Hillsong

I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship

Nothing But The Blood (Ephesians 1:7-8a) – Facedown by Matt Redman

Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)

Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong

10,000 Reasons (Psalm 103:1) – Unrelenting Love by Nick Thurmond

TEACHING: Before the Throne, Part 2

We tend to let cultural fears direct our prayers, which can lead to disillusionment and a lack of depth in our prayer life. May we instead be driven to deep prayer by the glorious greatness of Christ.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing from this sermon you found particularly helpful, insightful or difficult to understand?
2. Read and discuss Ephesians 1:15-20.  What do you see about the nature of man? What do these verses tell you about the nature & person of God?
3. From these verses, what do you observe about Paul? What is he showing us about prayer?
4. How does our culture affect how we pray? Are there ways in which this is good, bad or neutral?
5. What is the “fuel” that drives you to pray? What do you pray most often about?
6. Have you ever felt disillusioned because of prayer? What happened?
7. Can you identify a particular fear that tends to dominate your thoughts or prayer life?
8. How does understanding “the glorious greatness of Christ and the hope of His glory” affect how we pray?
9. Spend some time in prayer together asking God to enlighten the eyes of your heart (Eph. 1:18) and deepen your desire and ability in the area of prayer.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Sing, Sing, Sing (Psalm 47:6-7) – Hello Love by Chris Tomlin

With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong

Be Lifted High (John 3:30) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong

Christ Is Enough (2 Corinthians 12:9) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong

In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

TEACHING: Before the Throne, Part 1

Through Christ, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. Prayer is not about the result, but about the One in whom we trust – it is seeking the face of God, not just His hand.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing from this sermon you found particularly helpful, insightful or difficult to understand?
2. What is prayer? How would you describe/define prayer to someone who doesn’t know what it is?
3. Read and discuss Hebrews 4:14-16 and Psalm 46. What do you see about the nature of man? Of God? What does these verses tell us about how we can relate to God? What do you observe about prayer?
4. What are other Scriptures you can think of that instruct us on the topic of prayer?
5. What is the purpose of prayer? Why should we pray?
6. On a scale from 1-10 (1 = non-existent, 10 = constantly in prayer), how would you rate your prayer life? Why?
7. What do you find keeps you from prayer? What pushes toward prayer?
8. How can you grow in the discipline of prayer? Spend some time in prayer about this.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Glorious (Psalm 111:2-3) – Everything Glorious by Chris Tomlin (Passion)

Closer (Psalm 89:14-15) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong

The Solid Rock (Psalm 18:2) – Original Arrangement

Hosanna (Mark 11:9-10) – All of the Above by Hillsong

I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship

TEACHING: Philippians – A Journey Toward Humble Joy, Part 15

Greed shrivels the soul. The remedy is generosity for the cause of Christ.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. If you had to give a one-sentence synopsis of this message, what would you say?
2. What is generosity? Do you consider yourself a generous person?
3. Read and discuss Philippians 4:14-23. What do you observe about the partnership between Paul and the church in Philippi?
4. Are you “dieting” in the area of generosity? Does generosity come easily for you? Why or why not?
5. How does generosity build deep relationships and nourish the soul?
6. In what ways does generosity reflect and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ? How does the gospel push us toward great generosity?
7. What do you think your specific role is regarding generosity and the advancement of the gospel?
8. Is there someone you can thank for their generosity toward you? Take some time this week to thank them.
9. How can you grow in the grace of strategic, consistent, sacrificial giving?  Spend some time thanking God for His generosity toward us and ask Him for creativity in growing in our own generosity in gospel-centric ways.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

As It Is In Heaven (Psalm 96:1-3) – Overflow by Matt Maher

Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – Death of Death by Charlie Hall

I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship

Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Cathedral by HEARTSONG

Glorious (Psalm 72:18-19) – Glorious by Paul Baloche

Beautiful Lord (Ephesians 2:4-5) – Sound of Melodies by Leeland

TEACHING: Philippians – A Journey Toward Humble Joy, Part 14

We will battle for contentment all throughout our lives.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was something from this message that you found particularly helpful, insightful or difficult to grasp?
2. How would you define “contentment”? What makes you content?
3. Read and discuss Philippians 4:10-13. What is your initial reaction to these verses? What do you note about the character of Paul? What do you observe about contentment in this section of verses?
4. What are the blessings of contentment? By contrast, what comes from discontentment?
5. Where does the major battle rage for contentment in your own life?
6. Why don’t negative comparisons work in pushing us toward contentment?
7. “In the light of spiritual riches, other things begin to dim.” Have you observed this to be true? In what ways? What are “spiritual riches”?
8. How does the gospel of Jesus Christ enable us find contentment in any situation? Is there a situation or circumstance you are currently dealing with where you are finding it difficult to remain content? Spend some time in prayer about this.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Relentless – Zion Acoustic Sessions by Hillsong United

In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Open Up Our Eyes (Ephesians 1:18-19a) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) (Psalm 27:1) – Let The Future Begin by Chris Tomlin (Passion)

Christ Is Enough (2 Corinthians 12:9) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong

Your Love Never Fails (Romans 8:28) – Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture

TEACHING: Philippians – A Journey Toward Humble Joy, Part 13

When we believe a lie, we will perpetuate that lie. We need the “therapy” of the Word of God to renew our minds to right thinking.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. If you had to give a one-sentence synopsis of this message, what would you say?
2. Read and discuss Philippians 4:8-9. Why do you think Paul includes this section in his letter to the Philippians?
3. Paul says to “think on these things.” What specifically is he calling us to think upon? Do you naturally tend to think on these things? Why or why not?
4. What opposition do you find to putting your mind to the things Paul prescribes?
5. Read Romans 12:1-2 and John 8:31-32. How does truth set free? What does it mean to have a renewed mind? How are they connected? What role does the Word of God have in renewing our minds?
6. Pastor Mike gave three examples of “incomplete truths” the world presents in defining certain words – success,  genius, and looks (or beauty). How does the world system tend to define these terms? Is there a contrast between how scripture defines those words?
7. What other words does the world system define in ways that are incomplete or contradictory to the scriptures? What are the implications  or consequences of buying into a faulty definition of these terms?
8. How is the gospel of Christ “therapy” for our minds? Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the blessing and provision of the gospel.