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
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.
Preparing for Sunday | September 18
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 18
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Good Good Father | [listen]
by: Anthony Brown, Pat Barrett
Your Great Name | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
I Will Look Up | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye, Matt Redman
This I Believe | [listen + lyrics]
by: Ben Fielding, Matt Crocker
Revelation Song | [listen]
by: Jennie Lee Riddle
SERMON TEXT
Luke 4:18-21
THEME/TOPIC
Exposure to the reality of slavery in our world.
Sunday Rewind | 9.11.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Nothing But the Blood (Ephesians 2:13) – Already Not Yet by Citizens and Saints
But God (Romans 5:8) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Aaron Bleecker
In Christ Alone (Galatians 2:20) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
Jesus Paid it All (Colossians 2:13-14) – Everything Glorious by Kristian Stanfill
TEACHING: Be the Church, Part 3
God gives us gifts then gives us as a gift to a local church body. No God-given gift is better or worse than another. Unity in the body is the result of corporate humility.
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 has the Lord used the church in your walk with Him?
- Read Ephesians 4:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. What do these verses tell us about God? What do they reveal about us?
- What does it mean to equip the saints for the work of ministry? How do you think you need to be equipped? In what ways can you equip others?
- What causes divisions among churches? What examples of division in the church have you seen?
- What examples of unity have you seen in the church? Is there an area of unity within the context of the church that you need to move toward?
- What gifts, abilities or talents do you think God has given you? Where could those fit in the church?
- What is the difference between unity and uniformity? Which does scripture call us to?
- How does the gospel compel us toward unity through diversity?
- Spend some time praying for the things you’ve discussed. Pray that the Lord would lead our church to a gospel-centric unity within our body and with other churches in our area.
Preparing for Sunday | September 11
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 11
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Nothing But the Blood | [listen + lyrics]
by: Robert Lowry (1876)
But God | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
In Christ Alone | [listen + lyrics]
by: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Jesus Paid It All | [listen + lyrics]
by: Elvina M. Hall, (1865)
SERMON TEXT
Ephesians 4
READ
1 Corinthians 12
READ
Sunday Rewind | 9.4.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Come To Me (Matthew 11:28-30) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Lauren Chandler
Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
But God (Romans 5:8) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Aaron Bleecker
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: Be the Church, Part 2
The church is called to be salt that preserves the world from decaying and light that cuts through darkness. The salt sets the stage for the light.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- How would you describe the mission of the church, in one sentence?
- Read Matthew 5:13-16. What does it mean for believers to be the salt of the earth? What does it mean to be the light of the world?
- Read John 3:16-21. How does this passage, with its imagery of light and dark, describe the hopelessness of man’s condition? What is the hope-filled solution the Lord provides?
- Why do most religions offer a performance-based path to salvation? What is Scripture’s response to someone who believes they must work to earn God’s favor?
- Why must we act like “salt” before people will be receptive to our “light”? How might that affect your day-to-day life?
- What fears or doubts keep you from sharing the Gospel? What truths from Scripture might help you overcome those fears?
- Spend some time praying that the Lord would help you to be salt and light to those around you.
Preparing for Sunday | September 4
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 4
This week we’re introducing a new song, “But God.” This song is taken right out of Ephesians 2:4-7:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I want to encourage everyone to take some time and get familiar with this song this week. It’s full of rich, gospel truth. May this song and the truth that God, by his grace in and through Jesus, has saved us “even when we were dead in our trespasses” encourage our hearts this week.
I look forward to singing this song together with you all this Sunday!
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Come to Me | [listen + lyrics]
by: Lizzie Akers, Jeff Capps, Michael Bleecker, Hunter Pecunia
Great Things | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Wade Joye
But God | [listen]
by: Michael Bleecker, Hunter Hall, Lauren Chandler
In Your Presence | [listen]
by: Mack Brock, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, London Gatch, Jane Williams
SERMON TEXT
Matthew 5
READ