Sunday Rewind | 11.23.2014
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Sing, Sing, Sing (Psalm 47:6-7) – Hello Love by Chris Tomlin
With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship
Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong Worship
The Wonderful Cross (Galatians 6:14) – The Worship Initiative, Vol. 5 by Shane & Shane
Unending Love (Romans 8:38-39) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship
Son of God (Psalm 145:3-4) – Beauty in the Broken by Starfield
TEACHING: A Study of Deeper Faith in Colossians, Part 16
Friendships expand the capacity of the soul to experience life.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
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 Colossians 4:7-14 . What do these verses show us about the nature of ministry and the church?
- If you were writing a letter to tell others about how thankful you are for the people in your life, how many people would you include? Who are they? Who might include you in their letter?
- “Friendships expand the capacity of the soul to experience life.” How have you seen or experienced this? What qualities make for a deep friendship?
- When you find people in pain, do you tend to avoid or engage?
- “Any time you forgive or are forgiven, your soul expands.” How have you experienced forgiveness? Is there someone in your life you need to seek forgiveness from? Is there someone you need to extend forgiveness to?
- What specific seasons or moments in your life have expanded the capacity of your soul to love and care for others?
- What does the gospel direct and demand regarding friendships, forgiveness , encouragement and ministering to others?
- Spend some time in prayer about the things you’ve discussed. Ask the Lord to show you one person you can “go after” in encouragement.
TRAIL GUIDE: Remember When?
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, Section 3, Lesson 3: Remember When?
Why is it that God spends so much time in the Bible telling His children to “remember” Him? I’d like to venture four reasons I believe are grounded in scripture. When we fail to remember God we risk…
1. …Falling into idolatry/trusting ourselves or our possessions (Deut. 8:13-14)
2. …Never growing in trust of/faith in God (Isa. 40:20-21)
3. …Stumbling into sin and suffering the Father’s discipline (Deut. 8:19)
4. …Forfeiting a generation to the enemy (Judges 2:10-11)
So how can we use our minds to remember God? Here are five ways, listed below, that God has ordained for us to remember Him, who He is, and all that He has done. Help your kids use their memory to love God this week.
1. In His Word – God’s Word is our primary means of remembering who He is and all that He has done throughout history. As adults our most important duty in the kingdom is to take the words of God and, “Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).
2. In song – Remembering God in song is a theme we see in scripture over and over again. How wonderful it is that our Creator gave us music, knowing the power it has to help us remember as well as to connect our heads to our hearts and emotions.
3. In prayer – Prayer should not only be about asking for help but about remembering to God all that He has done. When we thank God in our prayers we are “remembering” that God alone is responsible for providing our every need. (Nehemiah 9)
4. In true Christian fellowship – Fellowship is much more than potluck dinners or bowling night. It is about gathering together to remember God to one another. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
5. In traditions and memorials – Traditions and memorials are things that we, in the bible church movement have largely banished from the life of the church. While a healthy dose of caution about tradition becoming idolatry is warranted, the Bible is also clear that God has given us tradition and memorial to help us “remember” who He is and all that He has done. (Joshua 4:4-7, Luke 22:19)
I hope that these will serve you well in helping the children in your group apply their minds to remembering God for who He is and what He’s done.
“Don’t live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.” -Romans 12:2
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Josh 4:21-24 | Prov 22:6
Psalm 103:1-5 | Jn 14:26
Deut 11:19 | Prov 3:1-6
Deut 8:1-5 | Deut 24:9
Take 5: Anatomy of a Message, Part 13
Here is a distillation of final thoughts on meditation, observation, preparation, and oration as you put your message together.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: Anatomy of a Message, Part 12
What do you want to accomplish though your message? Every message should have a clear goal. Here are three major considerations when thinking through the goal of your message.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: Anatomy of a Message, Part 11
As you deliver your message, set the tension. Tension creates in your audience a desire for resolution and keeps them engaged as you teach toward that resolution.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
TRAIL GUIDE: Teach Well
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, Section 3, Lesson 2: Teach the Children Well
When we think of Daniel we think bravery, good looks, government leader, survivor of the lion’s den, prisoner of war, advisor to kings, child… What? Where did child come in? Let’s think about it for a moment. We know from Scripture that Daniel was a youth, probably about 14 years old (think 8th grader), when he was taken from his home in Israel and into captivity in Babylon. Upon his arrival he was offered the best food and wine in the palace, but thought of a plan to keep himself kosher.
Already as a young teenager, Daniel was knowledgeable about his God and his faith. I’m fairly sure that the King of Babylon didn’t have any Hebrew schools at the palace. So Daniel had to have had a very solid understanding of his faith, the food laws, the teachings regarding the worship of Yahweh alone, and most importantly a deep respect for the Lord BEFORE arriving in Babylon. When he came to Babylon he then was taught about, “all kinds of literature and learning,” but what he knew about his faith was already so ingrained that he held steadfast to the God of his fathers.
There are two important lessons for us here. 1.) The mind of a child is more than capable of taking in and assimilating deep truths about God, and 2.) What we believe about God and the world around us, our “worldview” and morality, are pretty well set in stone by the age of 14 and will not easily be changed. In short, we are working with young people in the most crucial time of life for the mind. Let’s help the children this week understand the aspects and power of the mind in our lives. How can each be renewed by the power of Christ?
“Don’t live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.” -Romans 12:2
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Dan 5:12 & 14 | Col 3:2 ! 1 Sam.3 | Ecc.7:25 ! 2 Corinthians 10:5
Sunday Rewind | 11.16.2014
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up Our Eyes (Ephesians 1:18-19a) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
Christ Is Enough (2 Corinthians 12:9) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong Worship
The Lord Our God (James 1:17) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
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: A Study of Deeper Faith in Colossians, Part 15
Everyone has a platform to proclaim the “mystery of Christ.” What gospel inroads has God given you?
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO
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 Colossians 4:2-6 . What do these verses tell you about you? What do they tell you about Jesus?
- Would you consider prayer a strength or a weakness in your walk with the Lord? Why? How do these verses instruct us in the area of prayer?
- Have you had any recent opportunities to “proclaim the mystery of Christ” (v. 3)? What happened?
- What does it mean to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders” (v. 5)? Do you make the best use of your time with those who do not know Jesus? How can you grow in this area?
- What does it mean to be gracious in speech (v. 6)? Do you consider your words generally to be “seasoned with salt”? How do you need to grow in this area?
- “God did not come to heal all your pain, but to give you the grace to get through the pain.” Have you experienced this? How do you respond to that statement? How can pain become a platform for the gospel?
- What “gospel inroads” has God given you? What do you need to do in faith & obedience to make the most of those opportunities?
- Spend some time in prayer about the things you’ve discussed. Ask God to give you opportunities to proclaim Christ in clear and wise ways to those around us.
Take 5: Anatomy of a Message, Part 10
Biblical texts have a trajectory and a destination. Your message should too – good communicators must learn to land the plane.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
Take 5: Anatomy of a Message, Part 9
Oration, or the delivery of a message, is the public declaration of God’s Word without compromise.
Take 5 is a series of videos for pastors & teachers of God’s Word. Mike Minter, teaching pastor and founder of Reston Bible Church, shares practical wisdom from over 40 years of ministry experience.
For more Take 5 videos, visit vimeo.com/channels/minter or subscribe via RSS here: blog.restonbible.org/category/resources/take-5/feed/
To suggest a topic for Pastor Mike to cover, send an email to questions@restonbible.org.
From the Field: Papua New Guinea
RBC-supported missionary Brian Shortmeier, who works with New Tribes Mission, shared the video below with our church at our 2014 Missions Conference. Dimapatai is one of many primitive Moi tribal people in Papua, who came to know Christ as his savior through NTM missionaries. In this video, Dimapatai shares his unscripted thoughts on Jesus.
Here is a brief update on Dimapatai from the Lambs, New Tribes Mission staffers in Ontario:
Sadly just a few weeks ago we heard that he had passed away. In a culture that typically mourns without hope for days when someone dies, the family couldn’t help but rejoice in their new-found hope because of Jesus. These were Dimapatai’s final words before he went to be with his Saviour. He said, “I am not about to go anywhere but Heaven. To go anywhere else is not possible. I’m going to Heaven.Don’t think that I’m going somewhere else. Don’t be nervous or afraid for me. There are not two paths for me. I am going to be with Jesus.” Praise the Lord that we will one day rejoice together in glory with Dimapatai and some from every tongue and tribe and nation! “O death, where is your victory, Oh grave, where is your sting!”
Please take a moment now to pray for the ongoing work of tribal evangelism and church planting in Papua New Guinea and across the unreached people groups of the world.