Sunday Rewind | 7.26.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Closer (Psalm 89:14-15) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong Worship
Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong
10,000 Reasons (Psalm 103:1) – Unrelenting Love by Nick Thurmond
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) –Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong
TEACHING: Seeing is Believing
We take for granted that we see the world around us accurately, but that is not always true. What we see – or don’t see – can make all the difference in the world. Is seeing really believing?
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?
- How do we see themes of light and dark reflected in the stories of our culture?
- Read and discuss John 1:1-18, Genesis 1:1-5, John 3:16-21, Genesis 3:1-7 and John 8:12. What do these verses tell us about man? What do you see about Christ? What do these verses tell us about darkness & light, seeing & not seeing?
- How do these verses speak to the theme of redemption?
- How does the exodus and the Festival of Tabernacles provide context to Jesus’ claim about being the light of the world (John 8:12)?
- Discuss the following statement: “The essence of sin is not doing bad things. The essence of sin is believing a lie about God, that He can’t be trusted, that He isn’t good…” How does believing lies about God keep us from seeing the world as it really is? What are the practical implications of this as we live out our lives?
- How does the gospel of Jesus Christ show us God’s gift of light in the midst of darkness? What lies about God does the gospel dispel?
- Give thanks in prayer to God that Jesus was cast into darkness on our behalf, to demonstrate His great love for us. Pray for those people you know who are still hidden in darkness, that they would come to know the marvelous light of Jesus.
From the Field: “Let Me Translate My Tears”
Sherife, a Mwinika believer who worked to translate the Bible to his native language.
We recently received this update from New Tribes Mission regarding one of our supported missionaries working as a Bible translator in Zimbabwe.
Sherife was more than just a Mwinika tribesman to Bible translator & RBC-supported missionary, P. He was a fellow believer, one of the first Mwinika Bible teachers, and a Bible translation helper. He was also a friend. And now P. sat by Sherife as he lay on his deathbed. P. remembered another time when Sherife lay critically ill in bed – before he was saved, before Bible teaching even began in the Mwinika village. But this time it was different. Sherife was a believer in Jesus. Still, it was hard to watch as tears filled Sherife’s eyes, spilling down his cheeks.
“Let me translate my tears,” Sherife said to P. “I am crying because of my unsaved family members… I know where I am going, but I am worried about them. I didn’t know God until you came and told me about Him. Now I know Him. Now I am going to be with Him. Thank you for coming. Thank you beyond thanking. Thank you.” About a week later, Sherife was ushered into the presence of his Savior.
Of greater importance to Sherife than “translating his tears” was translating God’s Word into the Mwinika language. He was one of several Bible translation helpers that worked tirelessly alongside P. to see this translation come to fruition. But as of his death, the project was not yet done.
Please pray for our missionary P. and the other Mwinika men as they continue translating, looking to the day when the Mwinika Bible translation is complete.
Now & Always – New Live Worship Album
The process of recording this new live project was a great testimony of the Lord continuing to lead us in the leading of His people. God has done great things in our midst over this past year. He has used these eleven songs, in particular, to remind us of the unfailing grace and love He extends to us daily and the glory He is due with every word that escapes our lips.
In compiling the songs that ultimately were recorded for Now & Always, God was clearly weaving them together to unveil some amazing themes that would allow us to go into production with great confidence and joy. These songs have been such a blessing to sing together as a church – with most of them being introduced over the past twelve months. It’s such a privilege to look back and see how God has used His powerful Word paired with these powerful melodies and beautiful lyrics to provide a voice for our church to sing with such passionate faith.
The title, Now & Always, comes directly from one of my favorite lines from the fifth track, the hymn Be Thou My Vision – “Riches I heed not nor man’s empty praise / Thou mine inheritance, now and always.” It’s such a great reminder of the nature of our relationship with our Creator – that nothing we gain in this life can even begin to compare to the glorious inheritance of a life spent knowing Him and an eternity spent in His presence.
So many lyrics from this collection of songs point to the truth of this perfectly sustaining existence alongside Christ – both here on this earth (Now) and the promise of Heaven (Always):
Nothing shall be impossible / Your kingdom reigns unstoppable / We’ll shout your praise forevermore / Jesus, our God, unstoppable (I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2)
O my God, He will not delay / My refuge and strength always / I will not fear, His promise is true / My God will come through always, always (The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2)
There’s no end to Your love, there’s no end to Your love / You’re with us, You’re with us / There’s nothing in this world that could take You away / You’re with us, You’re with us (He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us. Psalm 46:10-11)
Our hope through the process of recording this album has always been to simply extend the time we have together on Sundays into the other 167 hours of your week. We hope that these familiar songs with these familiar voices and arrangements will be a blessing to you and provide more opportunities to praise God – either on your own or together with your families.
We are truly thankful for the opportunity to use God’s incredible gift of music to reach the hearts of His people. May our worship be full of passion. May it flow freely. And by all means, may it be louder than anything else in our lives. We hope you enjoy it.
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AUDIO CDS: CDs of NOw & always are now available in the rbc bookstore! IF YOU preordered a cd, you can pick them up there.
DIGITAL album: the digital version of Now & Always is now available on iTunes or Amazon Mp3 (click the icons below) as well as a variety of other digital music & streaming services including spotify, Google play, Rhapsody, and iheartradio.
TRAIL GUIDE: Takes One to Make One
The “Trail Guide” devotional is used by our adult leaders of grade school groups in Quest as a way to prepare their hearts and minds for the topics we will be covering with the children on the weekend. We have made them available here to help our parents of grade-schoolers engage with their children around the topics we are discussing and also for anyone else that might be blessed by following along.
EXTREME MAKEOVER, Unit 3, Section 4, Lesson 2: It Takes One to Make One
Before Jesus called us to make disciples, He called us to become His disciples. He says in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” If I think back on my best teachers, I find a few commonalities. For one, they didn’t live in the theoretical world. They either had or were living what they taught. Practical, real world experience is critical. Otherwise we wouldn’t have the expression, “well at least that’s how it works in theory.”The other thing that set apart these exceptional teachers was their passion for the subject they taught. It was a passion born of their own commitment to pursuing knowledge and understanding of their area of expertise. And it didn’t end. For them it was a life-long quest.
How do these common characteristics of excellent teachers relate to making disciples? If we are not passionately committed to our relationship with Jesus Christ, if we are not daily taking up His yoke and learning from Him, then we will never be worthy disciple-makers. If we are not living out the commands of Christ in our own lives, our call to others to believe and follow our Lord will ring hollow. Even the youngest students can quickly see through the charade if you are simply teaching theory that has never been applied or stories about God without the passion that comes from a relationship with the King of kings.
So let us each be a disciple first and always, then let us also be gentle and humble in heart so that others might follow us as we follow Jesus.
“A disciple is someone who confesses Christ as Lord and Savior, believing that God has raised Him from the dead and declaring that belief publicly through baptism.” -
John MacArthur
Disciple – maqhteu/w (koine Greek) Transliterated – matheteuo
1. to be a disciple of one
a. to follow his precepts and instructions
2. to make a disciple
a. to teach, instruct
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS OUR TEACHER. “He will teach you all things and bring all things to your memory.” – John 14:26
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
2 Tim 2:15 | Matt 11:28-29
Matt 8:21-22 | Matt 16:24
John 15:14-16 | Matt 23:27
Acts 23:3 | Mark 1:17 | Mark 8:34
Sunday Rewind | 7.19.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Hosanna (Mark 11:9-10) – Savior King by Hillsong
Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
Unstoppable God (Matthew 17:20) – Wake up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship
Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Cathedral by Heartsong
In Christ Alone (Galatians 2:20) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 4 – Abraham’s Faith
Our view of eternity guides our life of uncertainty. Faith in Christ requires us to live counter-culturally. If you do not feel the pull of the cultural current against you, then you’re simply drifting along with the world.
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?
- Read and discuss Hebrews 11:8-16. What do you note about Abraham and his faith? In what ways should our lives parallel Abraham’s?
- What does it mean to walk by faith? What is one significant step of faith you’ve taken?
- “We don’t know where we are going, but God does.” Do you find this mainly comforting or frightening?
- Why is it so difficult to be “in but not of” this world?
- Do you feel like a pilgrim and a stranger in this world? Why or why not? How does faith play into this?
- How does our view of eternity guide us through the uncertain times in life?
- How does the gospel instruct us in balancing life in this world with yearning for the next?
- Spend some time in prayer for the things you’ve discussed.
TRAIL GUIDE: Appraisal is the Key
The “Trail Guide” devotional is used by our adult leaders of grade school groups in Quest as a way to prepare their hearts and minds for the topics we will be covering with the children on the weekend. We have made them available here to help our parents of grade-schoolers engage with their children around the topics we are discussing and also for anyone else that might be blessed by following along.
EXTREME MAKEOVER, Unit 3, Section 4, Lesson 1: The Antiques Roadshow – Appraisal is the Key
Have you ever watched the Antiques Roadshow? I’ll admit I have paused, on a few occasions, to see what the fuss is all about. Personally I don’t get it. Paying lots of money for other peoples’ old stuff? What foolishness. Or is it? I look at these items and I see them and make a judgment… junk. However, someone skilled in appraising antiques looks at the same items and makes a very different judgment. I think there is a lesson for us here.
Scripture tells us that the things of God, God’s Word, are foolishness to the “natural man” or the unbeliever. Does this mean that they can’t understand the words? Does it look like Greek to them? I’ve heard complete heathens articulate the gospel message very clearly, so that cannot be what God meant. So what is it? The difference is in the appraisal (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). When the unregenerate man, the natural man, looks upon the truths in God’s Word he sees rubbish. He sees foolishness. So how do those who belong to Christ look at the same words and see truth, life, and eternal worth? Who is the expert we have in our corner? Who do we have with us at the road show that allows us to make the right judgment on the worth and truth of God’s Word? Who is the witness that testifies to the truth of what we are reading? The Holy Spirit of God. For the Word of God was given by the Spirit of God. And who knows the Spirit of God better than God Himself?
So we should be encouraged, and encourage the children, to carefully study the Scriptures, to meditate on them, and to humbly appropriate the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit that we might properly value and apply what God has spoken to us in His Word. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” – John 16:13
“… the testimony of the Spirit is more excellent than all reason. For God alone is a fit witness to Himself in His Word, so also the Word will not find acceptance in men’s hearts before it is sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit. The same Spirit, therefore, who has spoken through the mouths of the prophets must penetrate into our hearts to persuade us that they faithfully proclaim what has been divinely commanded… By this power we are drawn and inflamed, knowingly and willingly, to obey Him, yet also more vitally and more effectively than by mere human willing or knowing.” – John Calvin
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS OUR TEACHER. “He will teach you all things and bring all things to your memory.” – John 14:26
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
John 14:23 | Acts 5:17-32
John 14:17 | 1 Cor. 2:13-16
John 15:15 | John 16:13
Sunday Rewind | 7.12.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Alive in Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God is Able by Hillsong Live
In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
The Wonderful Cross (Romans 8:38-39) – The Worship Initiative, Vol. 5 by Shane and Shane
Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
The Lord Our God (James 1:17) – Passion: Let the Future Begin by Passion, Kristian Stanfill
TEACHING: Missions Sunday – From the Field
The decisions we make really do have consequences. If the decision lies before you, would you choose to suffer for Christ?
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 one of the hardest decisions you’ve ever had to make in your life?
- “The decisions we make really do have consequences.” How have you seen this to be true?
- Read and discuss Acts 16:22-34. What do you see here about the nature of man? What do you see about the nature of Christ and the gospel?
- Have you ever suffered for your faith in Jesus? What happened?
- How does God use suffering for our good and His glory?
- What difficult choices lie before you that you need to trust God with? What next steps do you think the Lord is asking you to take?
- Spend some time in prayer for our missionaries. If you’d like some guidance on how to pray for missionaries, check out this article.
Sunday Rewind | 7.5.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up Our Eyes (Ephesians 1:18-19a) – Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Be Lifted High (John 3:30) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Great Things (Worth It All) (Isaiah 12:5) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
Unending Love (Romans 8:38-39) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship
Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 3: Abraham
God always keeps His promises, and our obedience will give light to our next commission.
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?
- Take some time to read through and discuss Genesis 12, 13, and 15. What do you learn about God? What do you note about Abraham? What kind of man is he?
- In what ways do the ups & downs of Abraham’s life mirror our own lives as Christians?
- Where do we see Jesus foreshadowed in Abraham’s life?
- “Obedience always gives light to the next commission.” Have you found this to be true? Do you have an example where obedience yielded further revelation?
- Is there an area is situation in your life where you are struggling with obedience? What would it look like to step out in faithful obedience in this area?
- Have you ever doubted your salvation? Why or why not? How does the idea of biblical covenant address our doubts? How does the gospel of Jesus bring light to this?
- Spend some time in prayer giving thanks to God that He always keeps His promises. Ask Him to help you with any areas of unbelief you are struggling with, and ask Him for the grace to walk in glad obedience in those areas.
Sunday Rewind | 6.28.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Touch the Sky (1 Corinthians 2:9) – Empires by Hillsong United
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) –Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
I Lift My Hands (Psalm 46:10) – Hello Love by Chris Tomlin
TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 2: Noah
As in the times of Noah, turbulent waters are all around us. Navigate deep waters with deep 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 sermon?
- Read and discuss Genesis 6:5-22, Hebrews 11:7 and Matthew 24:36-44. What do these verses tell you about God? What do they tell us about man? What do they tell us about Noah and his character?
- How is the account of Noah a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ?
- What does “reverent fear” mean (Heb. 11:7, ESV)? What happens if we do not have a fear of God? How can you cultivate a “reverent fear” in your own walk?
- What are some of the “deep and turbulent waters” of our day? What deep truths help you navigate these waters?
- How does the gospel of Jesus comfort and instruct us in the face of the turbulent waters of our day?
- Spend some time in prayer giving thanks to God for his love and justice. Ask Him to help you live as salt and light in a lost and dying world.
Sunday Rewind | 6.21.2015
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
1. ENDLESS LIGHT (Psalm 113:3-4)
Ussher, Cashwell | Hillsong Music Publishing
2. 10,000 REASONS (Psalm 103:1)
Myrin, Redman | Thankyou Music
3. COME THOU FOUNT (Psalm 16:11)
Wyeth, Robinson | Public Domain
4. GOD IS ABLE (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Fielding, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
5. WHOM SHALL I FEAR (Psalm 27:1)
Tomlin, Cash, Cash | Sixstetps Music
TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 1: Adam
The world mocks what the Bible says about sin and daily fulfills what it mocks.
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 is it so hard to “be good”? Why do we keep trying?
- Read and discuss Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12-21. What do these verses tell you about the nature of God and Christ? What do they tell you about man? What do they tell us about the gospel?
- What does it mean that we are “in Adam”? What is the significance of this? What comes through the line of Adam?
- What does it mean to be “in Christ”? What is the significance of this? What comes through the line of Jesus?
- “The world mocks what the Bible says about sin and daily fulfills what it mocks.” Have you seen this to be true? What are some examples?
- How does the gospel of Jesus address our propensity toward “being good”? What are the practical implications of this for you?
- Spend some time in prayer thanking God for all that we have in Christ. Ask Him to help you depend more fully on Jesus as you go about your daily life.