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MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS (Romans 8:28)
Skinner, McClarney | Thankyou Music

FOREVER REIGN (Lamentations 5:19)
Ingram, Morgan  |  Hillsong Music Publishing

IN YOUR PRESENCE (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Brown, Williams, Gatch, Brock, Furtick, Joye |  Elevation Worship Publishing

HOSANNA (Mark 11:9-10)
Ligertwood (Fraser)  |  Hillsong Music Publishing

CORNERSTONE (Psalm 18:2)
Mote, Morgan  | Hillsong Music Publishing

TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 4

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
2. How important would you rate the Bible in the life of a Christ-follower?
3. Read and discuss Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:12, and Psalm 119:1-24. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What do you observe about the Scriptures from these verses? What other verses can you think of that directly teach us about the Word of God?
4. Would you say you have an appetite for God and his Word? How does one develop or acquire this appetite?
5. How is the Word of God a light for our path (Psalm 119:105)?
6. How can we know the voice of God?
7. What is one verse that has shaped your life in a profound way?
8. How does the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work in tandem?
9. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the goodness of His Word. Ask Him to help you learn, love and live His Word.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick | Elevation Worship Publishing

UNSTOPPABLE GOD (Matthew 17:20)
Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing

BE THOU MY VISION (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
Norsworthy, Hull, Byrne | Heartsong Music

BUT GOD (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Bleecker, Hall, Chandler | Bleecker Publishing

OUR GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:9-10)
Houston, Ligertwood | Integrity Music

TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 3

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
2. Would you consider yourself a vulnerable person? Is it easy for you to open up to others? Why or why not?
3. Read and discuss Genesis 2:25-3:13. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What do you observe about shame from these verses?
4. Share a time when you were ashamed. How does shame drive us away from vulnerability?
5. How does shame “sculpt the soul” and give birth to fear? What does fear lead us to do? What kind of people does fear lead us to be?
6. How do we hide from God, others and ourselves?
7. In what ways do we tend to cover our brokenness? What are your go-to “fig leaves”?
8. How does scripture provide us with a reference point through which to view ourselves, others, and the world?
9. How does the gospel of Jesus call us out of shame, fear and self-atonement?
10. Read and discuss Hebrews 12:1-2. What shame in your life do you need to despise? Where do you need to be vulnerable and honest with someone else? With yourself? With God? What is one step toward vulnerability that you can take in each of these areas? Spend some time in prayer in prayer about this and ask the members of your group to help you be accountable to take those steps.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

FOREVER (Revelation 17:14)
Pierce, Gifford, Wilson, Johnson, Taylor, Jobe |  Bethel Music Publishing

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE (Galatians 6:14)
Townend  | Thankyou Music

GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick |  Elevation Worship Publishing

O PRAISE THE NAME (Romans 5:8)
Hastings, Ussher, Sampson |  Hillsong Music Publishing

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD (Ephesians 2:13)
Lowry | Public Domain (Arrangement by Citizens and Saints)

GOOD GOOD FATHER (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
Brown, Barrett | Sixsteps Music

TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 2

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
2. Read and discuss John 8:42-47, Ephesians 6:10-20, Ephesians 2:1-9, 2 and 2 Corinthians 10:1-6. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
3. What do these scriptures tell us about spiritual warfare? How do they reveal something we otherwise would not know about?
4. What  do you think of when you hear the phrase “spiritual warfare”? Does this line up with what the scriptures reveal?
5. What firsthand experience have you had with spiritual warfare?
6. The world takes the truth it learns and either denies it or twists it. How have you observed this?
7. What weapons of spiritual warfare does the enemy wield against us? What weapons of spiritual warfare do we have at our disposal?
8. What is one specific area of spiritual warfare that you are currently struggling through? What weapon do you need to wield in this struggle? Spend some time in prayer together about this.

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

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
2. Read and discuss Hebrews 11:8-16. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
3. What’s the difference between a pilgrim and a tourist? What are the parallels of this analogy in the Christian life?
4. Compare and contrast tourists and pilgrims in these areas: time, money, relationships, suffering, sin. What other areas of life does this apply to?
5. 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?
6. How does the gospel of Jesus Christ compel us toward joy? How does joy sustain us in our journey?
7. How was Jesus the perfect pilgrim? What does that mean for us?
8. 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.