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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

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
2. What do you believe defines you?
3. 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?
4. “Because of sin, our greatest desire is to please ourselves.” How have you seen this to be true by observation and experience?
5. “All Christians are counselors.” How do you react to this statement?
6. “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?
7. Are there ways in which you are currently trying to fill an eternal longing with a temporal thing?
8. Are there any areas where you are suppressing the truth in unrighteousness by justifying ungodly behavior?
9. What do you long for the most?
10. “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.

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

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
2. What do you think of when you hear the word slavery? What is your understanding of modern slavery?
3. 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?
4. 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?
5. What is the significance of the phrase “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 4:1)? How does this frame the topic of slavery, oppression and injustice?
6. How do we confuse inconvenience with injustice? What examples can you think of?
7. “Prosperity blinds us to a world of injustice.” Have you seen this to be true?
8. How does the gospel compel us toward justice for the oppressed?
9. 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.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2;16) – The EP by Zealand Worship

Come Thou Fount (Psalm 16:11) – Public Domain

Unending Love (Romans 8:39) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship

Jesus Is Better (Mark 9:24) – King of Love by Austin Stone Worship

Doxology (Romans 11:36) – Public Domain

TEACHING: Be the Church, Part 1

As followers of Christ, we don’t go to church. We are the church.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. Prior to hearing this message, what came to mind when you heard the word “church”? Has that changed at all now?
2. What passages of Scripture come to mind that describe the design, purpose, or mission of the Church?
3. What does it mean that we, as followers of Christ, are the Church? Why is it so important to get these terms right?
4. Have you, or anyone you know, left a local church for any of the reasons that Pastor Mike described? What are other reasons (right or wrong) that someone might leave?
5. What does it look like for the truth to bring conviction rather than guilt?
6. How would you respond to a friend who said he was leaving the church because he thought it was boring or irrelevant? What if he thought that the church was full of hypocrites?
7. Read Romans 6:15-23. What is the difference between how the world defines “freedom” and how Scripture defines it? How does Jesus give freedom to His followers? What should our lives look like in light of that freedom? How should it affect our interactions with unbelievers?
8. Spend some time praying that your group, and all the believers at RBC, would truly reflect and honor Christ, as His Body. Pray for the unbelievers in your lives, that they would put their faith in Christ and become members of the Church.