Sunday Rewind | 10.4.2015
VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
The Lord Our God (James 1:17) – Passion: Let the Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
Lord I Need You (Hebrews 4:16) – All The People Said Amen by Matt Maher
Cornerstone (Psalm 18:2) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 3
When the church doesn’t listen to the world, the world doesn’t listen to the church. Listening is a platform for evangelism, and often listening speaks more than speaking does.
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 sermon?
- What are some good things you have from the Lord? Are there some things in your life from the Lord that you would categorize as “good but difficult”?
- Read and discuss James 1:16-21. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What do you note about the Word of God in these verses?
- What does being swift to hear and slow to speak have to do with wrath or anger?
- What is the correlation between anger and immorality?
- Why to we have the tendency to “talk above” others? How have you seen this in culture & society? How have you seen it in your own life?
- Referring to the previous question, what implications does this have for the church?
- Read and discuss 1 Peter 2:21-25. How does Jesus provide an example about how we are to conduct ourselves in speaking and listening? How does the gospel empower us to this end?
- How can you cultivate the grace of listening? Is there a specific person or situation where you need to do this? Spend some time in prayer about this.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Choice
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” – Deuteronomy 30:19
For man was created to love God and to be loved by God. – The HOPE, Chapter 2
God’s love for us is proclaimed throughout the Old and New Testaments.
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. (Psalm 25:6)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1 John 4:16)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
In response to that love God calls us to in turn love Him above all else.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)
Our love of God is demonstrated by our willing obedience to His purpose for our lives.
But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: (1 John 2:5)
In other words, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it, “the chief purpose for which man is made is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” When we truly love God, we will truly glorify Him above all others. Let’s help the children this week truly grasp how long, high, deep, and wide is God’s love for us.
BIG IDEA: We were created to love and be loved by God.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 139:13-17
Mark 12:30
Jeremiah 31:3
SECTION VERSES:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” -Genesis 1:31
LESSON VERSE:
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” – Deuteronomy 30:19
PRAYER:
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all of God’s creation and how He has supplied our every need.
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
- What is God’s purpose for you?
- What was God’s purpose for the angels?
- Why did Lucifer reject God’s purpose?
- What was the end result?
LIVE IT OUT!
- Make a list of ways you can show God that you love him. Do the same for your parents, siblings, and friends. Purpose to love!
– – –
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.
Sunday Rewind | 9.27.15
VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Alive in Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship
Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – Death of Death by Charlie Hall
Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) (Psalm 27:1) – Let The Future Begin by Chris Tomlin (Passion)
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: Love One Another
God not only highlights but elevates His command for us to love one another.
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 sermon?
- What comes to mind when you think of the love of God?
- Do you think God loves you? Why or why not?
- Read and discuss 1 Peter 4:7-11, Colossians 3:12-14, Matthew 22:34-40, Galatians 5:13-14, Romans 13:8-10, John 13:34-35, and 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What do we learn about love?
- What impact does the inclusion of the phrase “above all” have on these verses (particularly the verses from 1 Peter and Colossians)? How should we respond to what these verses are telling us?
- How have you been the recipient of others’ love? What examples of others’ love toward you stand out most in your life?
- How do you respond to this statement? “We love others best by loving Christ most.”
- What does the gospel of Jesus show us about love? How does the gospel change or affect how we love one another?
- How can you reach out and show love to someone else this week? Spend some time praying and asking the Lord how He would want you to love this person in a tangible, practical way this week.
Family Quest: The Hope – Creation
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” – Hebrews 11:3
According to His story, God spoke all of creation into existence. By His Word He made everything out of nothing… According to His story, God created the heavens, the earth, and every living thing in six days. – The HOPE, Chapter 1
After reading the preceding excerpt from The HOPE video, let’s consider a few of these concepts. First, because God is all powerful, not limited by anything, He can create however He chooses, even simply by speaking. This concept is clearly presented in the Bible:
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
“…by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed.” (2 Peter 3:5)
Secondly, God made everything that is out of nothing. Think about that. When we humans create, we must utilize or draw upon things that existed before us. When we “create” we are really “re-creating.” But God, who created from nothing, is creative in the ultimate sense:
“…God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” (Romans 4:17)
Third, God created the whole world in six days. We find this concept clearly presented in the Bible:
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them…” (Exodus 20:11)
While students of the Bible have long debated the meaning of “six days,” the assertion that God made the heavens and the earth and all that is in them clearly contradicts the notion that the world is simply the result of a natural evolutionary process.
BIG IDEA: God created the universe and everything in it. And it was good.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Genesis chapters 1-2 (focus on 2:7), Colossians 1:16
SECTION VERSES:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” -Genesis 1:31
LESSON VERSE:
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” – Hebrews 11:3
PRAYER:
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all of God’s creation and how He has supplied our every need.
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
- What did God make everything From?
- Why did God create the world?
- Why did God create people?
- What was man’s purpose when God created them?
LIVE IT OUT!
- Take a walk in the woods together, paying special attention to all that God has created and how unique each thing is.
– – –
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.
Sunday Rewind | 9.20.15
VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
God You Lifted Me Out (Psalm 30:1-2) – For The Honor by Elevation Worship
Keeper of My Heart (Psalm 121:1-2) – Majestic by Kari Jobe
Touch the Sky (1 Corinthians 2:9) – Empires by Hillsong United
Beautiful Jesus (Romans 1:20) –Attention by Kristian Stanfill
Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 2
When driven by our natural desires, we fill our insecurities with things that only wind up creating more insecurities. The ultimate desire that must replace all others is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
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 sermon?
- What is the nature of human desire? How is desire related to idolatry?
- Read and discuss James 1:9-15. What do these verses tell us about man? What do they tell us about God? What do we learn about temptation and desire?
- Why would it be evil for God to tempt us? What is the distinctions between temptation and testing?
- “Habit will eat willpower for lunch any day of the week.” Can you think of examples of this in your own life?
- Discuss the following statement: “We try to fill our insecurities with things that only wind up creating more insecurities.” Have you found this to be true in your life? What examples can you share? What specific insecurities can you identify in your own life?
- How does the gospel of Jesus impact, form or re-form our natural desires? How does the gospel direct us toward humility, sacrifice and love?
- Spend some time praying together for the things you’ve discussed. Ask God to weed out fleshly desires in your life and replace them with love for Him.
Introducing RBC Cares
The Deacons are launching a new initiative called “RBC Cares,” whose goal is to connect those who desire to share their gifts (material or services), with the needy in our congregation, who are under the care of the Deacons.
RBC Cares will assist the Deacons in meeting the needs of RBC families, while tapping into the talents of the congregation.
The first step is to create a central repository of donors, which enables the Deacons to match needs with gifts. To do this we need your help. First, we need to know who is willing to help (free of charge) and how you’re gifted.
Here are a few examples of ways to serve:
- Opening your home to a displaced widow/family
- Offering legal advice
- Offering tax advice or financial guidance
- Offering real estate advice
- Assisting with job searches
- Providing child care
- Doing home repair
- Giving rides to church
Here’s how it works:
- Let us know you’re willing to serve by registering at the link below (donors will be kept anonymous).
- Tell us how you would like to serve.
- If a need arises within your area of giftedness, we will communicate the need and if you’re willing and able, you can elect to serve. If not, we will keep you on the list for the next opportunity within your area. There’s no time commitment or obligation.
- You can serve as little or as much as you prefer, as needs arise within your area of giftedness.
Family Quest: The Hope – Who is God?
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20
“Before there was anything, before time or space or physical matter, there was God…One who is far beyond our ability to fully comprehend or describe. Through His story, we find that God is Spirit without a beginning or an end. He is complete within Himself, lacking in nothing. He is all knowing and all wise. He is perfect in every way. He is not limited by anything.” – The HOPE, Chapter 1
The first week of our study presented evidence that the Bible is the most trustworthy reference point in all the world for understanding reality. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself, and it reveals truth about God in two ways. One way is by demonstration: recording God’s action and interaction with the world and humankind. Another way is by declaration: making direct statements or claims about the nature and character of God.
As you prepare to lead the children this week, consider the following Bible verses that support the excerpt from The HOPE quoted above.
Before There Was Anything, There Was God (Colossians 1:16-17)
God Is Beyond Our Ability to Fully Comprehend (Psalm 145:3, Romans 11:33)
God Is Spirit (John 4:24)
God Is Eternal – He Has No Beginning or End (Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 1:17)
God Is Complete within Himself, Lacking in Nothing (Acts 17:24-25)
God Is All Knowing and All Wise (Psalm 147:5, 1 Chron. 28:9, Isa. 40:28)
God is holy (perfect, other than) (1 Samuel 2:2)
BIG IDEA: God is.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO (START AT :46)
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Romans 1:20-21, Psalm 139
1 John 3:20, Isaiah 46:9-10
Psalm 147:4-5, 1 John 4:8
Acts 17:25, Revelation 1:4
Romans 11:33, Romans 16:27
SECTION VERSES:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” -Genesis 1:31
LESSON VERSE:
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20
PRAYER:
Pray that God would give you a desire to read His Word and that his Spirit would help you understand.
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
- What did you learn in Quest this week?
- Who is God?
- What is he like?
LIVE IT OUT!
- Read some more of John’s gospel together.
- ]Write “God is…” on a piece of paper and make a list of His attributes together for the refrigerator.
– – –
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.
Family Quest: Introduction to The Hope
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. -Psalm 119:105
It’s the Universal Question – Is there a purpose …for the world and for me? The HOPE video begins with these words…
“Throughout time people have considered the world in which we live; the complexity and beauty of nature, the mystery of life and death, the depth of human joy and pain …and they have wondered, ‘How did it all come to be? Is this world the result of chance…or design? Is there something, or someone, behind it all? And if there is such a being, then what is He like? Does He have a purpose for this world? Does He have a purpose for me in this world? Does He have a purpose for me beyond this world?”
Jeremiah 29:13 reads: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
This is the heart of Quest. Some of our kids may be asking questions about the existence of God, others may just be wanting to know Him more. In both cases He promises to be found when we search wholeheartedly for Him.
It begins with you and me. As we dive in to this study, be prepared to let God show you who He is, and to discover new things about God and yourself. Determine that you will “search for Him with your whole heart,” and then lead the children to do the same.
BIG IDEA: The Bible is God’s Word. We can trust it.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK’S VIDEO
SECTION VERSES:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” -Genesis 1:31
LESSON VERSE:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalm 119:105
PRAYER:
Pray that God would give you a desire to read His Word and that His Spirit would help you understand.
DISCUSSION STARTERS:
What did you learn in Quest this week?
What is the Bible?
Why can we trust the Bible?
If people wrote the Bible, how did God write the Bible?
LIVE IT OUT!
Start a Bible reading plan together. It can be just a verse or two a day. The gospel of John is a great place to start!
– – –
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.
New Women’s Prayer Group
I’d like to make you aware of a new ministry opportunity for the women of RBC. Oswald Chambers said:
“When a man is born from above the life of the Son of God is born in Him, and he can either starve that life or nourish it. Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished. Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves; the Bible’s idea of prayer is that we may get to know God himself.”
Tuesday mornings, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. a Women’s Prayer Group will meet in the Jr. High room in the Youth Building. All women of the RBC community are invited to join together to seek God in prayer for our church, nation, neighborhoods and families. Even if you can only come for a part of the time we encourage you to join us!
If you have any questions, please contact me.
-Marsha Mathews, Director of Women’s Ministry
Sunday Rewind | 9.13.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong
Keeper of My Heart (Psalm 121:1-2) – Majestic by Kari Jobe
Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Cathedral by Heartsong
Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
Be Lifted High (John 3:30) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 1
The world’s currency is pleasure. God’s currency is pain. In His grace, God leverages pain for our good and His glory.
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 sermon?
- Why do you think God allows pain and suffering?
- Read and discuss James 1:1-8. What do these verses tell us about man? About God? What do we learn about the nature of trials, pain and wisdom?
- What are your thoughts on this quote from C.S. Lewis? “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
- In what ways does God leverage pain to…
- …remove impurities in our lives?
- …drive us to His Word?
- …make us long for glory?
- …help us see the brevity of life?
- …drive us to grace?
- …build eternal relationships?
- Read and discuss 2 Corinthians 4:8-18. Why does the author call our troubles “light” and “momentary” (v.17)? Why is it difficult to live in light of this truth? How does affliction prepare us for an “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (v.17)?
- What are you going through now that you need to “count as joy” (James 1:2), even though the situation itself is not joyful?
- Spend some time praying together for the things you’ve discussed.