Preparing for Sunday | October 9
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Forever | [listen]
by: Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford, Gabriel Wilson, Jenn Johnson, Joel Taylor, Kari Jobe
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us | [listen | lyrics]
by: Stuart Townend
Great Things | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye
Good Good Father | [listen]
by: Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett
O Praise The Name | [listen + lyrics]
by: Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
Nothing But The Blood | [listen + lyrics]
by: Robert Lowry, (1876)
SERMON TEXT
Ephesians 6
From the Field: Open Arms in Brazil
Open Arms Worldwide (OAW) is a Christian organization dedicated to the spiritual, moral, emotional, physical and social enrichment of children and youth who live in under-served or forgotten communities around the world – communities where families and children are at higher risk of becoming victims of poverty, crime, violence, addiction, abuse, and social marginalization. Christian hope is the distinctive of Open Arms and the catalyst that sets life transformation into motion. The Christian faith instills a hope that is not dependent on physical circumstances. This hope results in resiliency, perseverance, healthy socialization, a sense of history, community and belonging, and strong moral and civic character. These are exactly the attributes that these children require if they are to overcome the obstacles before them and fulfill their God-given potential. RBC currently provides support to two OAW missionary families, including Eduardo & Claudia Ribeiro, who shared at our worship services last weekend.
This year, OAW celebrates its tenth year as a ministry organization. For a decade, Open Arms has been bringing hope to children who live in under-served and forgotten communities in Brazil and here in the U.S. What began in one small community in the interior of Brazil has been replicated in 12 communities across 3 states in Brazil, and serves more than 1,000 children weekly. Since 2013, OAW has also worked with local stateside churches and schools from their U.S. headquarters in Sterling, Virginia.
Please pray for OAW, their “agents of hope” and the children they reach with the hope of the gospel. Here are some stories from the field of how lives have been changed as OAW seeks to know Christ and to make Him known in Brazil and beyond.
Sunday Rewind | 10.2.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
COME THOU FOUNT (Psalm 16:11)
Robinson | Public Domain
GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick | Elevation Worship Publishing
O PRAISE THE NAME (Romans 5:8)
Hastings, Ussher, Sampson | Hillsong Music Publishing
ONLY KING FOREVER (1 Timothy 1:17)
Brock, Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 1
Tourists go with the current of this world. Pilgrims go against it.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- Read and discuss Hebrews 11:8-16. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
- What’s the difference between a pilgrim and a tourist? What are the parallels of this analogy in the Christian life?
- Compare and contrast tourists and pilgrims in these areas: time, money, relationships, suffering, sin. What other areas of life does this apply to?
- Discuss Pastor Mike’s definition of joy: Joy is the inner confidence that God’s grace will see me through my earthly pilgrimage. What is the difference between joy and happiness? What gives you joy?
- How does the gospel of Jesus Christ compel us toward joy? How does joy sustain us in our journey?
- How was Jesus the perfect pilgrim? What does that mean for us?
- Is there an area of your life where you’ve left the pilgrimage to become a tourist? Spend some time in prayer together about this.
Preparing for Sunday | October 2
My hope and prayer for this blog each week is that God would use it to stir your affections for Him and for His Word, and to help you prepare for and eagerly anticipate what God will do through our time gathered together on Sunday. Here’s the first Preparing for Sunday post with a more in-depth explanation of why we do this.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Keeper Of My Heart | [listen + lyrics]
by: Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Kari Jobe
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us | [listen | lyrics]
by: Stuart Townend
O Praise The Name | [listen + lyrics]
by: Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
Great Things | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye
SERMON TEXT
Hebrews 11:13-16
Sunday Rewind | 9.25.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
But God (Romans 5:8) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Aaron Bleecker
Revelation Song (Revelation 5:12) – Passion 2013 by Kari Jobe
Come To Me (Matthew 11:28-30) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Lauren Chandler
TEACHING: Matters of the Heart – Lessons from Counseling
There are a lot of abnormal people in the world. Chances are, you are one of them.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- What do you believe defines you?
- Read and discuss Psalm 20:5, Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5, James 1:13-15, Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, Luke 6:45, Psalm 37:4 and Psalm 115:3-8. What do these verses tell us about us? What patterns or trajectories do you notice? What do these verses tell us about God?
- “Because of sin, our greatest desire is to please ourselves.” How have you seen this to be true by observation and experience?
- “All Christians are counselors.” How do you react to this statement?
- “The heart will always struggle to be satisfied as it looks for something to worship.” Have you found this to be true? What examples can you think of?
- Are there ways in which you are currently trying to fill an eternal longing with a temporal thing?
- Are there any areas where you are suppressing the truth in unrighteousness by justifying ungodly behavior?
- What do you long for the most?
- “Anxiety is a liar.” Is there an area of your life where you need to take your feelings and set them next to the truth of Scripture? Spend some time together in prayer about this.
Preparing for Sunday | September 25
My hope and prayer for this blog each week is that God would use it to stir your affections for Him and for His Word, and to help you prepare for and eagerly anticipate what God will do through our time gathered together on Sunday. Here’s the first Preparing for Sunday post with a more in-depth explanation of why we do this.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Open Up The Heavens | [listen + lyrics]
by: Meredith Andrews, Stuart Garrard. James McDonald, Andi Rozier
Always | [listen + lyrics]
by: Jason Ingram, Kristian Stanfill
But God | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
Revelation Song | [listen]
by: Jennie Lee Riddle
Come to Me | [listen]
by: Elizabeth Akers, Jeff Capps, Michael Bleecker
SERMON TEXT
Proverbs 20:5
Friday Food to Guilford Elementary
The mission of our Adopt-a-School relationship with Guilford Elementary School is to help meet the physical, relational and spiritual needs of the disadvantaged through service and generosity, and to encourage the staff who work with these families.
By leveraging the talents and resources of many RBC volunteers, we have the opportunity to positively affect the lives of students, their families, and the staff of Guilford. We can help to fill the gap created by budget cuts and a poor economy with our abundance and share the hope that is in us.
One of the ways in which Reston Bible serves Guilford Elementary is through Backpack Buddies, where we send bags of food home every Friday with the children of families living below the poverty level.
Right now, Guilford has 250 families that meet that criteria and need assistance. Last Thursday, volunteers gathered together in the clubhouse to pack bags for our first delivery of the school year. It was a time of fellowship, service, and an opportunity to show the love of Christ to our local community. Thank you to the volunteers who came out to help! This ministry would not be possible without your faithful service. We are in need of many more weekly volunteers – especially for Backpack Buddies delivery on Fridays when we take the bags of food to Guilford. If you are interested in serving with us, please click here for more information.
Sunday Rewind | 9.18.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2:16) – The EP by Zealand Worship
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) –Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
This I Believe (The Creed) (Romans 1:16) Fielding, Crocker | Hillsong Music Publishing
Revelation Song (Revelation 4:8(b)) – Fearless by Philips, Craig and Dean
TEACHING: Until All Are Free
Prosperity blinds us to a world of injustice.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- What do you think of when you hear the word slavery? What is your understanding of modern slavery?
- Read and discuss Ecclesiastes 4:1, Psalm 146:6-7, Isaiah 1:17, Micah 6:8, and Psalm 10:17. What do these verses tell us about God? What do they reveal about us?
- What do these scriptures reveal about God’s heart on the topics of justice, slavery and oppression? How does your heart need to move closer to His on this?
- What is the significance of the phrase “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 4:1)? How does this frame the topic of slavery, oppression and injustice?
- How do we confuse inconvenience with injustice? What examples can you think of?
- “Prosperity blinds us to a world of injustice.” Have you seen this to be true?
- How does the gospel compel us toward justice for the oppressed?
- Is there an area or situation in your list from where you need to act justly or “do justice” (Micah 6:8)? Spend some time in prayer about this.
Family Quest: The Rock – Intro
THE ROCK: INTRODUCTION
As a culture, we place a very high value on certainty, on assurance and security. We work towards “financial security.” We pay for car insurance, homeowners insurance, disability insurance, health insurance, and a whole host of other “insurances,” in order to protect ourselves from financial ruin or hardship. Why? Because in order to live a life free of anxious thoughts and fear we need some assurance that if something goes “wrong” we will have a safety net. Most of us will only take risks when the potential downside of those risks is minimized. We want protection. But all of these “assurances” are only temporal and financial and a poor substitute for the real assurances we can have in our God, the giver of all good gifts, the maker of heaven and earth, and the owner of all wealth seen and unseen.
In Isaiah 36, the Assyrian King laying siege to Jerusalem taunts the Israelites with this question: “On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him.” (Isaiah 36: 4-6). But Hezekiah took this before the Lord and said essentially, “Lord, our confidence is in you alone. We are not strong enough to fight this enemy. Only you can deliver us.” Hezekiah didn’t trust in Egypt or in counsel of war or ancient insurance plans, but instead in the Living God of Israel – a wise choice, as the account makes clear.
Once we, like Hezekiah, have come to understand that God’s promises are trustworthy, we are able to place our “weight” on them much as a climber places his weight on his harness, ropes, and carabineers. We will find that our confidence grows as God shows himself to be faithful. The peaks God asks us to climb may increase in difficulty but each will be accompanied by an increase in our confidence in Christ. When we fall or are taken through a valley experience it will be with this same confidence that we are in the hands of our all-loving, all-powerful, all-wise God.
This year we will cover five main areas we can be sure of based on God’s promises. These are, our salvation, the power of prayer, freedom from the power of sin, forgiveness, and guidance from his Holy Spirit. With our map now laid out before us, I pray that you will meditate on the scriptures we will be exploring. I am confident that you will see your own trust in God grow as you lead your children on their “Quest” for a deeper relationship with the Lord. Our hope is that as adults they will look back over their lives and say with the Psalmist, “For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you.” (Psalm 71:5-6)
BIG IDEA: With Jesus, we can build our lives on the Rock.
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Matthew 7:24-25
Psalm 62:1-2
Deuteronomy 7:9
SERIES VERSE:
I find my rest in God alone. He is the one who saves me. He alone is my rock. – Psalm 62:1-2a
LESSON VERSE:
I find my rest in God alone. He is the one who saves me. He alone is my rock. – Psalm 62:1-2a
PRAYER:
Pray together for children who are enslaved or otherwise mistreated around the world. Thank God for His “rock” solid promises to us.
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
- Why is God compared to a rock?
- What are some promises God makes?
- Why can you trust God?
- What does it mean to be “sure” of something?
LIVE IT OUT!
- Write down Psalm 62:1-2 and decorate the paper, then hang it up somewhere you will see it everyday.
- Search the Bible for places where God is called a Rock.
– – –
ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
VIDEO: Weekend Logistics Update
Thank you for your patience in cooperating with all of us assisting in the parking lot each week. We still have some tweaking to do and we can always use more helpers in our rotation (email hostteam@restonbible.org to express your interest!)
If you arrive for the second service somewhere close to 10:55, the parking lots will be full. You can drop your family off at the main entrance, but you will have to drive back to the overflow parking at the bottom of the hill to park.
Also, when leaving the property after services, please note that there is a Yield sign – not a Stop sign – at the bottom of our driveway. A volunteer will be posted there to remind people they don’t have to stop, which backs up traffic. We hope this knowledge will save you some time on Sunday mornings.
In addition, we have an imbalance in the number of children attending Quest during the first and second services. If you are a family with elementary school-aged children and attend the 10:45 and it is not a hindrance to your family, please consider attending the 9:00am service.