Sunday Rewind | 8.7.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
YOUR PROMISES (2 Peter 1:3-4a)
Brown, Brock, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
ONLY KING FOREVER (1 Timothy 1:17)
Brock, Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
COME TO ME (Matthew 11:28)
Akers, Capps, Bleecker | Bleecker Publishing
O PRAISE THE NAME (Romans 5:8)
Hastings, Ussher, Sampson | Hillsong Music Publishing
TEACHING: Following Jesus to the End
Clear minds enable clear thinking.
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 2 Peter chapter 3. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- What is “wholesome thinking” or “a pure mind” (v. 1)? Why is this important?
- What causes us to forget God? What sort of “interference” do you tend to deal with?
- What does it mean to be deliberately ignorant of something (v. 5)? What are the results of this? How can we avoid doing this ourselves?
- What present-day scoffers have you seen or encountered?
- Why do we so easily buy into things without checking them out? What examples can you think of?
- What does it mean to redeem something? How does this relate to the gospel? How does it relate to our daily life?
- As we look at the world stage today, what comfort is there in knowing that God is in control and He redeems? What patterns of though or action in your life do you need to reevaluate in light of this?
- In light of all this, knowing what will come to pass, what kind of people ought we be? How can we lean into the gospel and look forward to the coming kingdom of God?
Preparing for Sunday | August 7
As Christians, we aren’t just individuals but a family (Ephesians 2:19-22), a people (1 Peter 2:9), and a body saved by Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27), united to one another by our faith in Jesus Christ. That means that we are the church, God’s people, who worship Jesus together because He died for our sins and made us His.
The Bible describes several things that Christians are to do when they come together. We pray together (Acts 2:42), we sing together (Ephesians 5:19), we hear God’s Word preached together (2 Timothy 3:16), we take the Lord’s Supper together (1 Corinthians 11:26), and we celebrate baptisms together (Matthew 28:19).
“Preparing for Sunday” will focus on two of these aspects specifically — singing together and sitting under the preached Word together.
The aim of this blog is two-fold:
- To help us prepare for the time we gather together each Sunday.
- To encourage our worship of God throughout the week.
Each week we will send out the songs we will be singing together for the upcoming Sunday. It will include the song title/arrangement and links to the song and lyrics whenever possible. This will help us become more familiar with the songs we will sing together each week. And it will help us to learn any new songs or arrangements we will introduce. The point of our worship through song is to sing praises to God, to sing and encourage one another in the gospel, and to proclaim to a dying world that Jesus is the only hope.
Along with posting the songs, we will include the Scripture or topic for each week. The desire here is to encourage reading God’s Word and to spend time studying and meditating on the Scripture/topic prior to the sermon each week.
Here are several easy ways you could incorporate this prep into your weekly routines:
Listening to the songs:
- On your commute to and from work.
- To and from church each week.
- During work (if you are allowed and able).
- While folding laundry.
- During your family worship time.
- Cooking dinner.
- Cleaning up around the house.
Reading the text for each week:
- On your commute to and from work (if you don’t have to drive!).
- During work breaks/lunch breaks.
- During your family worship time.
- When you spend time in the Word each day.
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.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Your Promises
by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
WATCH AND LISTEN | LYRICS
Only King Forever
by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
WATCH AND LISTEN | LYRICS
Come To Me
by Lizzie Akers (1902); additional lyrics: Jeff Capps, Michael Bleecker, Hunter Pecunia
WATCH AND LISTEN
O Praise The Name
by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
WATCH AND LISTEN (WITH LYRICS)
SERMON TEXT
2 Peter 3
READ
Sunday Rewind | 7.31.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
UNSTOPPABLE GOD (Matthew 17:20)
Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
ALWAYS (Psalm 121:1-2
Ingram, Stanfill | EMI Christian Music Publishing
MAJESTY( 1 Chronicles 29:11)
Smith, Gerrard | Curious? Music UK
THIS I BELIEVE (THE CREED) (Romans 1:16)
Fielding, Crocker | Hillsong Music Publishing
FOREVER REIGN (Lamentations 5:19)
Ingram, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
TEACHING: The Gospel & Relationships
Love, humility, sacrifice and grace – these four pillars of the gospel of Jesus Christ have the power to change the direction of a nation.
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?
- How would you explain justification and sanctification to someone who do not know what these words mean? Why are these important in the life of a believer?
- Read and discuss Philippians 2:1-11. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- In the text above, where do you see the four pillars of the gospel Pastor Mike mentions – love, humility, sacrifice and grace? What other scriptures can you think of that instruct us on each of these pillars?
- What are the opposite of those pillars that we should be careful to avoid as Christ-followers?
- What is one profound way you have been the recipient of love? What is one area of your life where you need to extend gospel-centric love?
- How is humility emphasized in these verses? What examples of humility have impacted you in your life? Where is an area where you need to grow in gospel-centric humility?
- How have you seen sacrifice modeled? Is there an area of life where God is asking you to make a gospel-centric sacrifice that might point others to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice?
- How would you define grace? How have you seen grace in action? What relationship you need to apply gospel-centric grace?
- Spend some time praying for our nation, and asking God how you can move forth in your circles of influence with the power of the gospel of Jesus.
Sunday Rewind | 7.24.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong Worship
Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2:16) – The EP by Zealand Worship
With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship
Come To Me (Matthew 11:28-30) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Lauren Chandler
Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – HYMNS II by PAGE CXVI
TEACHING: Between a Rock and a Hard God
Moses struck a rock in the wilderness in order to bring water to a thirsty people. Jesus, the true Rock, was struck so that lost people might drink the living water and never thirst again.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was something in this message that encouraged or challenged you? What was something that you hadn’t thought of before?
- What does it mean that Israel was “putting God on trial” in the wilderness? Who was really on trial?
- Do you ever find yourself doubting God that way? How does the Spirit convict you or comfort you in those times? What passages in Scripture help you?
- Read Exodus 7:1-7. How does this narrative foreshadow the Gospel? What do the rock, the staff, and the water point to?
- Tim Keller has said: “If there were no ultimate judge, what hope would there be for the world? But if there is an ultimate judge, what hope would there be for you and me?” What does this mean? How does the Gospel reconcile this tension?
- At the beginning of this message, Chris quoted an atheist who questioned God’s goodness and claimed that his life was better without God in it. How might you respond to him?
- Spend some time in prayer seeking God’s help in trusting Him more, and thanking Him for placing upon Christ the judgment that we all deserve.
Sunday Rewind | 7.17.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Be Lifted High (John 3:30) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Nothing But the Blood – Already Not Yet by Citizens and Saints
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) –Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Jesus Is Better (Mark 9:24) – King of Love by Austin Stone Worship
Your Love Never Fails (Romans 8:28) – Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture
TEACHING: The Heart of Leadership
Integrity is the heart of leadership, and the church must stand firm in integrity. The church is the only hope for the world because the church carries the message of the gospel.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing from this message that encouraged your faith? What was one thing that challenged your thinking?
- What does it mean that men and nations suppress God’s truth? Why do they do it? What are some of the consequences that can result?
- Pastor Mike noted how the culture tends to use words that soften the seriousness of sin — like exchanging “choice” for abortion and “cohabitation” for fornication. Can you think of any others? Why are the terms we use important?
- How does seeing ourselves, and each other, as being made in the image of God affect our understanding of human life?
- How might understanding that all men come through the line of Adam change our view of race?
- Read Psalm 15. How does this kind of integrity set God’s people apart from the world? Who are some people in Scripture who exemplify this passage? Do the verses of this chapter reveal any areas where you feel a need to grow?
- If God brought revival to our nation, what might it look like? Pray that believers would come together and cling to the truth of Scriptures, starting with the members of your group, that the world may know that God sent His Son as a payment for sin.
Sunday Rewind | 7.10.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
Come To Me (Matthew 11:28-30) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Lauren Chandler
O Praise the Name (Romans 5:8) – Open Heaven/River Wild by Hillsong Live
Unstoppable God (Matthew 17:20) – Wake up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: From the Field – The Will of the Father
For security reasons, we aren’t able to share this week’s message online.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was something that encouraged, challenged, or convicted you about this message?
- How have the recent events in our nation affected the way you pray?
- What are some weaknesses you see in your prayer life? Do you find it difficult to truly pray “not my will but Thy will be done”?
- Read Luke 22:31. What is your main desire or prayer when it feels like you are being sifted like wheat? To be safe or to be faithful? How could Jesus’ words in this passage speak to you during those times?
- Do you find yourself surprised by the evil in the world? How can we encourage each other to love and good deeds in the midst of evil?
- Read Hebrews 12:1-3. Why did Christ go to the cross, according to this passage? How do the truths of these verses help us as we walk through a fallen world?
- What does it look like to pray “in the Spirit”?
- Spend some time praying for God’s will to be done in America and around the world. Pray for the work of RBC missionaries, and pray that the Lord would show you how he wants to use the members of your group. Pray to ask God what He would have you do, in His will, and then be willing to sit quietly and wait on the answer.
Sunday Rewind | 7.3.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Keeper of My Heart (Psalm 121:1-2) – Majestic by Kari Jobe
Cornerstone (Psalm 18:2) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
Jesus Is Better (Mark 9:24) – King of Love by Austin Stone Worship
Come Thou Fount (Psalm 16:11) – Public Domain
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 21
We don’t drift toward the truth; we only drift away from the truth. So we must cling to Jesus, who is the truth.
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?
- Why does Scripture seem to spend so much time talking about spiritual rescue, but not as much about physical rescue? Why do we so often spend time focused on rescuing people who are physically wounded, but not spiritually wounded?
- What are the differences between physical wounds and spiritual ones? What are the differences between physical and spiritual consequences to our actions?
- Read John 8:27-31 and John 14:1-7. What does it mean that Jesus is the truth? How does the truth set us free?
- Why is it so easy to drift toward sin, toward the world, or toward untruth? Have you seen this at work in your own life?
- Have you ever “rescued” a fellow believer who was drifiting from the truth? Has anyone ever rescued you?
- What are some practical ways that we can go after a brother or sister whom we see drifting in his or her walk with the Lord? What passages of Scripture come to mind that can guide us in this?
- Spend some time in prayer, thanking the Lord for being the true Rescuer and offering eternal life and salvation to those who believe in Him.
- As we come to the end of our study in James, what are some things that have encouraged or challenged you throughout the book?
Sunday Rewind | 6.26.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Galatians 6:14) – The Dispatch EP by The Dispatch
This I Believe (the Creed) (Romans 1:16) Fielding, Crocker | Hillsong Music Publishing
Jesus Paid it All (Colossians 2:13-14) – Everything Glorious by Kristian Stanfill
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 20
To pray demonstrates confidence in God. To not pray demonstrates confidence in man.
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 James 5:12-18. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- What tension between the text and your personal experience do you note in this text? How do you deal with such tensions?
- How is prayer emphasized in these verses? What does this mean for us?
- What is the importance of considering context when studying the Scriptures?
- What is your view of miraculous healings or spiritual gifts of healing in our day & times?
- In what ways do we tend to cover up our sins? Why is it important to confess our sins to each other? How does this develop community and camaraderie?
- “To pray demonstrates a confidence in God. To not pray demonstrates a confidence in man.” How would you describe your prayer life?
- Is there something burdening your soul that you need to release? Spend some time in prayer together for this.
Sunday Rewind | 6.19.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Alive in Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship
Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2:16) – The EP by Zealand Worship
Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong Worship
Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Take the World by Giving Jesus by Ascend the Hill
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 19
If life is a vapor, then so is suffering.
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 James 5:7-11. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- What does this section tell us about suffering and perseverance? How does it play out in the three examples James gives us here (farmers, prophets, and the life of Job)?
- Have you ever had to be patient in suffering? What happened? How did you relate to God through that time?
- Have you ever experienced persecution directly because of your faith in Jesus?
- What is the doctrine of imminence (v. 7) and why does it matter?
- Consider Romans 8:18. Why does Scripture call our sufferings “not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed”? What does this mean for our daily lives?
- How does the gospel of Jesus give us an eternal perspective, particularly when considering pain and suffering?
- Is there an area of suffering where you need to be patient and persevere? What would it look like to view this area through the lens of an eternal perspective? Spend some time praying together about this.
Sunday Rewind | 6.12.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) –Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Romans 5:8) Open Heaven / River Wild by Hillsong Live
Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 18
The love of stuff is the seed of greed. Money always abandons us in the time of our greatest need.
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 James 5:1-6. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- Who are the “rich” whom James is addressing the verses above?
- “Money is not bad in and of itself – but it is dangerous.” What does this mean? What examples can you think of?
- “Treasures, because of time, become stuff.” How have you seen this principle to be true?
- How is hoarding a way of presuming upon the future?
- In what ways can we passively abuse the poor?
- What is a way you can “do for one what you wish you could do for everyone”?
- Consider Pastor Mike’s diagnostic questions: “Are you a hoarder? Do you love money? Has money ever gotten you in trouble? Do you have a giving plan? Do you think more about giving saving or spending?” How would you answer each of these?
- How did Jesus become poor that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)? How should we respond to this great truth? Spend some time in prayer over the things you’ve discussed.