Sunday Rewind | 8.7.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
YOUR PROMISES (2 Peter 1:3-4a)
Brown, Brock, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
ONLY KING FOREVER (1 Timothy 1:17)
Brock, Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
COME TO ME (Matthew 11:28)
Akers, Capps, Bleecker | Bleecker Publishing
O PRAISE THE NAME (Romans 5:8)
Hastings, Ussher, Sampson | Hillsong Music Publishing
TEACHING: Following Jesus to the End
Clear minds enable clear thinking.
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 2 Peter chapter 3. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- What is “wholesome thinking” or “a pure mind” (v. 1)? Why is this important?
- What causes us to forget God? What sort of “interference” do you tend to deal with?
- What does it mean to be deliberately ignorant of something (v. 5)? What are the results of this? How can we avoid doing this ourselves?
- What present-day scoffers have you seen or encountered?
- Why do we so easily buy into things without checking them out? What examples can you think of?
- What does it mean to redeem something? How does this relate to the gospel? How does it relate to our daily life?
- As we look at the world stage today, what comfort is there in knowing that God is in control and He redeems? What patterns of though or action in your life do you need to reevaluate in light of this?
- In light of all this, knowing what will come to pass, what kind of people ought we be? How can we lean into the gospel and look forward to the coming kingdom of God?
Preparing for Sunday | August 7
As Christians, we aren’t just individuals but a family (Ephesians 2:19-22), a people (1 Peter 2:9), and a body saved by Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27), united to one another by our faith in Jesus Christ. That means that we are the church, God’s people, who worship Jesus together because He died for our sins and made us His.
The Bible describes several things that Christians are to do when they come together. We pray together (Acts 2:42), we sing together (Ephesians 5:19), we hear God’s Word preached together (2 Timothy 3:16), we take the Lord’s Supper together (1 Corinthians 11:26), and we celebrate baptisms together (Matthew 28:19).
“Preparing for Sunday” will focus on two of these aspects specifically — singing together and sitting under the preached Word together.
The aim of this blog is two-fold:
- To help us prepare for the time we gather together each Sunday.
- To encourage our worship of God throughout the week.
Each week we will send out the songs we will be singing together for the upcoming Sunday. It will include the song title/arrangement and links to the song and lyrics whenever possible. This will help us become more familiar with the songs we will sing together each week. And it will help us to learn any new songs or arrangements we will introduce. The point of our worship through song is to sing praises to God, to sing and encourage one another in the gospel, and to proclaim to a dying world that Jesus is the only hope.
Along with posting the songs, we will include the Scripture or topic for each week. The desire here is to encourage reading God’s Word and to spend time studying and meditating on the Scripture/topic prior to the sermon each week.
Here are several easy ways you could incorporate this prep into your weekly routines:
Listening to the songs:
- On your commute to and from work.
- To and from church each week.
- During work (if you are allowed and able).
- While folding laundry.
- During your family worship time.
- Cooking dinner.
- Cleaning up around the house.
Reading the text for each week:
- On your commute to and from work (if you don’t have to drive!).
- During work breaks/lunch breaks.
- During your family worship time.
- When you spend time in the Word each day.
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.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Your Promises
by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
WATCH AND LISTEN | LYRICS
Only King Forever
by Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
WATCH AND LISTEN | LYRICS
Come To Me
by Lizzie Akers (1902); additional lyrics: Jeff Capps, Michael Bleecker, Hunter Pecunia
WATCH AND LISTEN
O Praise The Name
by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson
WATCH AND LISTEN (WITH LYRICS)
SERMON TEXT
2 Peter 3
READ
Sunday Rewind | 7.31.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
UNSTOPPABLE GOD (Matthew 17:20)
Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
ALWAYS (Psalm 121:1-2
Ingram, Stanfill | EMI Christian Music Publishing
MAJESTY( 1 Chronicles 29:11)
Smith, Gerrard | Curious? Music UK
THIS I BELIEVE (THE CREED) (Romans 1:16)
Fielding, Crocker | Hillsong Music Publishing
FOREVER REIGN (Lamentations 5:19)
Ingram, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
TEACHING: The Gospel & Relationships
Love, humility, sacrifice and grace – these four pillars of the gospel of Jesus Christ have the power to change the direction of a nation.
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 would you explain justification and sanctification to someone who do not know what these words mean? Why are these important in the life of a believer?
- Read and discuss Philippians 2:1-11. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- In the text above, where do you see the four pillars of the gospel Pastor Mike mentions – love, humility, sacrifice and grace? What other scriptures can you think of that instruct us on each of these pillars?
- What are the opposite of those pillars that we should be careful to avoid as Christ-followers?
- What is one profound way you have been the recipient of love? What is one area of your life where you need to extend gospel-centric love?
- How is humility emphasized in these verses? What examples of humility have impacted you in your life? Where is an area where you need to grow in gospel-centric humility?
- How have you seen sacrifice modeled? Is there an area of life where God is asking you to make a gospel-centric sacrifice that might point others to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice?
- How would you define grace? How have you seen grace in action? What relationship you need to apply gospel-centric grace?
- Spend some time praying for our nation, and asking God how you can move forth in your circles of influence with the power of the gospel of Jesus.
Sunday Rewind | 6.26.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Galatians 6:14) – The Dispatch EP by The Dispatch
This I Believe (the Creed) (Romans 1:16) Fielding, Crocker | Hillsong Music Publishing
Jesus Paid it All (Colossians 2:13-14) – Everything Glorious by Kristian Stanfill
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 20
To pray demonstrates confidence in God. To not pray demonstrates confidence in man.
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 James 5:12-18. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- What tension between the text and your personal experience do you note in this text? How do you deal with such tensions?
- How is prayer emphasized in these verses? What does this mean for us?
- What is the importance of considering context when studying the Scriptures?
- What is your view of miraculous healings or spiritual gifts of healing in our day & times?
- In what ways do we tend to cover up our sins? Why is it important to confess our sins to each other? How does this develop community and camaraderie?
- “To pray demonstrates a confidence in God. To not pray demonstrates a confidence in man.” How would you describe your prayer life?
- Is there something burdening your soul that you need to release? Spend some time in prayer together for this.
Sunday Rewind | 6.19.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Alive in Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship
Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2:16) – The EP by Zealand Worship
Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong Worship
Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Take the World by Giving Jesus by Ascend the Hill
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 19
If life is a vapor, then so is suffering.
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 James 5:7-11. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- What does this section tell us about suffering and perseverance? How does it play out in the three examples James gives us here (farmers, prophets, and the life of Job)?
- Have you ever had to be patient in suffering? What happened? How did you relate to God through that time?
- Have you ever experienced persecution directly because of your faith in Jesus?
- What is the doctrine of imminence (v. 7) and why does it matter?
- Consider Romans 8:18. Why does Scripture call our sufferings “not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed”? What does this mean for our daily lives?
- How does the gospel of Jesus give us an eternal perspective, particularly when considering pain and suffering?
- Is there an area of suffering where you need to be patient and persevere? What would it look like to view this area through the lens of an eternal perspective? Spend some time praying together about this.
Sunday Rewind | 6.12.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
I Will Look Up (Deuteronomy 7:9) –Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship
Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Romans 5:8) Open Heaven / River Wild by Hillsong Live
Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 18
The love of stuff is the seed of greed. Money always abandons us in the time of our greatest need.
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 James 5:1-6. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What commands, encouragements or warnings are there for us to heed?
- Who are the “rich” whom James is addressing the verses above?
- “Money is not bad in and of itself – but it is dangerous.” What does this mean? What examples can you think of?
- “Treasures, because of time, become stuff.” How have you seen this principle to be true?
- How is hoarding a way of presuming upon the future?
- In what ways can we passively abuse the poor?
- What is a way you can “do for one what you wish you could do for everyone”?
- Consider Pastor Mike’s diagnostic questions: “Are you a hoarder? Do you love money? Has money ever gotten you in trouble? Do you have a giving plan? Do you think more about giving saving or spending?” How would you answer each of these?
- How did Jesus become poor that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)? How should we respond to this great truth? Spend some time in prayer over the things you’ve discussed.
Sunday Rewind | 6.5.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
How Great Thou Art (Psalm 145:3) – Hymns Ancient & Modern by Charlie Hall (Passion)
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Romans 5:8) Open Heaven / River Wild by Hillsong Live
Give Me Faith (Psalm 73:25-26) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 17
God is not opposed to making plans. He is opposed to being left out 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?
- Where were you and what were you doing when you heard about 9/11?
- Read and discuss James 4:11-17. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
- In what ways do people in general “presume upon the future”? How does this tend to manifest itself in your life? In what ways do you tend to “boast about tomorrow”?
- What reminders has God put in your path to remind you of the brevity of life?
- How would you answer the question in verse 14 – What is your life?
- How do you respond to the statement that we are but “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (v. 14)?
- Is there an area or situation in your life where you know the right thing to do but haven’t done it (v. 17)? What would it look like to apply the gospel there?
- Where in your life where you need to insert “…Lord willing…”? What plans have you made that you need to submit to the Lord? Spend some time praying together about this.
Sunday Rewind | 5.29.16
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Mighty to Save (Zephaniah 3:17) – Yahweh by Hillsong Chapel
Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) (Psalm 27:1) – Let The Future Begin by Chris Tomlin (Passion)
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us (Galatians 6:14) – Love Displayed by Liberty Campus Band
Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
TEACHING: Turning Point
God’s Word empowered by God’s Spirit is our spiritual guidance system, and it is 100% reliable. In the Spirit and power of Christ, consider your ways and turn your feet today.
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?
- Do you have a good travel story where you got lost?
- Read and discuss Psalm 119:59-60. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
- Share a time when you were lost relationally, emotionally or spiritually. What happened? How did you relate to God during that time? What did you see Him do?
- Why did God give us His Word? In what way is it our spiritual guidance system?
- “True transformation comes through time with God in the presence of Christ.” What does this mean? What does it have to do with the Word? How have you seen this principle at work in your life?
- Who do you know struggling around you that you can help carry their burden to the cross of Christ?
- What is one area of your life where you need to “consider your ways and turn your feet today”? What would it look like to turn from your ways today and turn back to God’s ways in this particular area? Spend some time in prayer together about this.
Sunday Rewind | 5.22.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Unstoppable God (Matthew 17:20) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship
This I Believe (the Creed) (Romans 1:16) Fielding, Crocker | Hillsong Music Publishing
O Praise The Name (Anástasis) (Romans 5:8) Hastings, Ussher, Sampson | Hillsong Music Publishing
Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant
In Christ Alone (Galatians 2:20) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 16
The motive of the world system is that all people would declare independence from God. Befriend the people of the world, but not the philosophies of 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 Sunday?
- What would you say is your “life message” – the message that you consistently proclaim to those around you?
- Read and discuss James 4:1-10. What does this tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about the world? About God?
- What is the world system? In what ways is it opposed to the kingdom of God?
- “The motive of the world system is that all people would declare independence from God.” How do you see this play out in society and culture? How do you see it play out in your own life?
- Why would we have no knowledge of the world system apart from divine revelation?
- In what ways does the world system promote pride, self, hoarding, living to die and leading to be served? What other things or values does the world system promote?
- In contrast to the previous question, what does the gospel of Jesus promote?
- “Befriend the people of the world, but not the philosophies of the world.” How are you doing with this? Spend some time together in prayer about it.
Sunday Rewind | 5.15.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
Alive in Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship
Be Lifted High (John 3:30) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship
Forever (Matthew 28:26) – Majestic by Kari Jobe
Good Good Father (2 Thessalonians 2:16) – Housefires II by Housefires
TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 15
The primary root of all our problems is not found in external circumstances or situations. It comes from within.
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?
- When a newspaper posed the question, ‘What’s Wrong with the World?’ G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: ‘Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton.’ What do you think he meant by that?
- Read and discuss James 4:1-3. What does this tell us about us? Why do you think the language is so strong here? How would you answer the first question in verse 1?
- Read and discuss 1 Kings 21:1-16. How is this an example of good desires turning bad?
- What other examples of runaway desires can you think of from Scripture, culture or your own life?
- What desires in your life have cost you the most, or caused you the most problems?
- How does the gospel heal, reshape, redirect and redeem our unsanctified desires?
- What unsanctified desire are you currently dealing with that needs to be submitted to the Lord?
- Spend some time in prayer about the last question. Pray that God would give you (heal, reshape, redeem) the desires of your heart and align your heart with His.