Blog

VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship

With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong Worship

Hosanna (Mark 11:9-10) – Savior King by Hillsong Worship

In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 5

Every time we believe a lie, it becomes easier to believe the next one. Lies pave the way to more lies.

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 sermon?
2. Last week’s “homework” was to read one chapter of Proverbs each day until your group meets again.  What did you learn? What insights did you gain?
3. Read and discuss James 1:19-27 and John 8:42-44. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What warnings or commands are here?
4. What is the “world” in the context of these verses? How do we experience the world? How can we be tainted by the world?
5. Pastor Mike shared 3 areas where lies from the world invade: Intellectually, morally & materialistically. What examples of each can you think of?
6. In Pastor Mike’s example, what is the difference between “science” and “scientist”? What happens if you fail to make the distinction? What other examples like this can you think of?
7. “Intellectual lies lead to moral lies lead to material lies” Have you found this sequence to be true? How to lies pave the way for more lies? Give examples.
8. How does the gospel of Jesus deal with the stain of the world? How does the gospel keep us from being permanently stained?
9. Are there particular areas of your life that have been stained or polluted by the world? Spend some time in prayer surrendering these to the Lord, and thanking Him for the cleansing power of the gospel.

VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong Worship

The Wonderful Cross (Romans 8:38-39) – The Worship Initiative, Vol. 5 by Shane and Shane

Give Me Faith (Psalm 73:25-26) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Keeper of My Heart (Psalm 121:1-2) – Majestic by Kari Jobe

Glorious (Psalm 111:2-3) – Everything Glorious by Chris Tomlin (Passion

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 4

The desire to obey instruction is prompted by the anticipated outcome. To be humble is to be teachable, to be teachable is to be reachable. To look intently into the Word of God is to have the Word of God look intently into you.

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 sermon?
2. Read and discuss James 1:21-25. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What do you note about the Word of God in these verses? What warnings or commands are here?
3. What does it mean to “humbly accept the word” (v. 21)? Why is humility important in the context of the Word of God?
4. In what ways is our desire to obey prompted by what we think the outcome will be?
5. How do you respond to this statement? “To look intently into the Word of God is to have the Word of God look intently into you.”
6. How is it liberating to obey the word of God? How does the gospel of Jesus show us that the Word of God is liberating, not oppressive? How does the gospel show us the wisdom of the Scriptures.
7. How can you cultivate the grace of obedience to the Word? Is there a specific area where you struggle with disobedience? Spend some time in prayer about this.
8. Read one chapter of Proverbs each day until your group meets again.  Keep a journal of insights as you read and meditate on these scriptures. Share what you learned with your group the next time you meet.

VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews

The Lord Our God (James 1:17) – Passion: Let the Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)

Lord I Need You (Hebrews 4:16) – All The People Said Amen by Matt Maher

Cornerstone (Psalm 18:2) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 3

When the church doesn’t listen to the world, the world doesn’t listen to the church. Listening is a platform for evangelism, and often listening speaks more than speaking does.

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 sermon?
2. What are some good things you have from the Lord? Are there some things in your life from the Lord that you would categorize as “good but difficult”?
3. Read and discuss James 1:16-21. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What do you note about the Word of God in these verses?
4. What does being swift to hear and slow to speak have to do with wrath or anger?
5. What is the correlation between anger and immorality?
6. Why to we have the tendency to “talk above” others? How have you seen this in culture & society? How have you seen it in your own life?
7. Referring to the previous question, what implications does this have for the church?
8. Read and discuss 1 Peter 2:21-25. How does Jesus provide an example about how we are to conduct ourselves in speaking and listening? How does the gospel empower us to this end?
9. How can you cultivate the grace of listening? Is there a specific person or situation where you need to do this? Spend some time in prayer about this.

VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS

As we adjust to three Sunday worship services, we want to spend less time making announcements and more time worshiping. To help facilitate that, we’ll show a brief video announcement segment 4-5 minutes before each service begins. Grab an early seat just before your service begins so you can take advantage of these pre-service announcements. We’ll also post them here on the Sunday Rewind each week.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship

God You Lifted Me Out (Psalm 30:1-2) – For The Honor by Elevation Worship

Keeper of My Heart (Psalm 121:1-2) – Majestic by Kari Jobe

Touch the Sky (1 Corinthians 2:9) – Empires by Hillsong United

Beautiful Jesus (Romans 1:20) –Attention by Kristian Stanfill

Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 2

When driven by our natural desires, we fill our insecurities with things that only wind up creating more insecurities. The ultimate desire that must replace all others is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

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 sermon?
2. What is the nature of human desire? How is desire related to idolatry?
3. Read and discuss James 1:9-15. What do these verses tell us about man? What do they tell us about God? What do we learn about temptation and desire?
4. Why would it be evil for God to tempt us? What is the distinctions between temptation and testing?
5. “Habit will eat willpower for lunch any day of the week.” Can you think of examples of this in your own life?
6. Discuss the following statement: “We try to fill our insecurities with things that only wind up creating more insecurities.” Have you found this to be true in your life? What examples can you share? What specific insecurities can you identify in your own life?
7. How does the gospel of Jesus impact, form or re-form our natural desires? How does the gospel direct us toward humility, sacrifice and love?
8. Spend some time praying together for the things you’ve discussed. Ask God to weed out fleshly desires in your life and replace them with love for Him.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong

Keeper of My Heart (Psalm 121:1-2) – Majestic by Kari Jobe

Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Cathedral by Heartsong

Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

Be Lifted High (John 3:30) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 1

The world’s currency is pleasure. God’s currency is pain. In His grace, God leverages pain for our good and His glory.

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 sermon?
2. Why do you think God allows pain and suffering?
3. Read and discuss James 1:1-8. What do these verses tell us about man? About God? What do we learn about the nature of trials, pain and wisdom?
4. What are your thoughts on this quote from C.S. Lewis? “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
5. In what ways does God leverage pain to…
   • …remove impurities in our lives?
   • …drive us to His Word?
   • …make us long for glory?
   • …help us see the brevity of life?
   • …drive us to grace?
   • …build eternal relationships?
6. Read and discuss 2 Corinthians 4:8-18. Why does the author call our troubles “light” and “momentary” (v.17)? Why is it difficult to live in light of this truth? How does affliction prepare us for an “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (v.17)?
7. What are you going through now that you need to “count as joy” (James 1:2), even though the situation itself is not joyful?
8. Spend some time praying together for the things you’ve discussed.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Unstoppable God (Luke 1:37) – Wake up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

How Great Thou Art (Psalm 145:3) – Hymns Ancient & Modern by Charlie Hall (Passion)

Forever Reign (Lamentations 5:19) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong

Jesus Paid It All (Colossians 2:13-14) – North Point Live by Kristian Stanfill

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (Galatians 6:14) – Original Arrangement

TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 7: Jacob’s Wives

Deception creates obstruction. And we are ourselves deceived when we seek after what we think will fulfill our hearts’ longings, rather than Christ alone.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one piece of this message that especially challenged or encouraged you?
2. What does it mean that deception creates obstacles? How does deception create physical or circumstantial obstructions? How does it obstruct our walk with the Lord?
3. How did Jacob’s deception create obstacles? How did Laban’s?
4. Where do you see yourself in this story?
5. Read Genesis 29:16-35. How does Leah represent the longings of our hearts? How does Rachel represent the ways we try to fill those longings?
6. Is there a hole in your heart that you are trying to fill with something other than Jesus Christ? What are you striving after right now that you believe would fulfill you, if you achieved it?
7. How is Jesus the “true Rachel”? Spend some time praying that He would help you desire Him more than anything else, and praising Him as the One worthy of our desire.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Your Love Never Fails (Romans 8:28) – Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture

Blessed Be Your Name (Job 1:21) – Blessed Be Your Name: The Songs of Matt Redman, Vol. 1 

Lord of All (Psalm 97:5-6) – Attention by Kristian Stanfill

It is Well (Isaiah 66:12) – Public Domain (additional chorus by Hillsong Chapel)

I Stand Amazed (2 Corinthians 8:9) – North Point Live by Candi Shelton (North Point)

TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 6: Jacob’s Personality

Present decisions determine future consequences. Living for the present will destroy your future.

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 sermon?
2. How would you describe your personality? Have you ever taken a personality test? Was it accurate? Do you find your personality changed through the years? How so?
3. Read and discuss Genesis 25:19-34. Who are the main characters in this account? What do you observe about them in this text? What are their main personality traits based on this account?
4. How did Esau despise his birthright? What modern parallels of this do we see? What personal parallels do you see?
5. How did Jacob “force the hand of God”? Have you ever done this? What happened?
6. How do present passions blur the future? What decisions currently lie before you where you need to trust the goodness and sovereignty of God?
7. How does the gospel enable God’s morality to flow through our personality? How does the gospel direct our morality?
8. Are you involved in anything right now that you know could destroy your future? Spend some time praying with your small group and discussing an accountability plan for those situations.