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VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
During 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

All Creation Sing (Joy To The World) (Psalm 96:12-13a) – North Point Christmas by Seth Condrey (North Point)

O Come All Ye Faithful (John 1:14) – Christ Is Come by Big Daddy Weave

Alive in Us (Ephesians 2:4-5) – God is Able by Hillsong Worship

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

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 9

The moral law is a judge. The royal law is a guide.

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 2:8-13. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What encouragements, warnings or commands are here for us to heed?
3. What is the moral law of scripture? Why does Paul call it “the law of righteousness” (Romans 3:21)?
4. “To violate any part of the moral law is to violate all of it.” Why? What are the implications of this?
5. What is the “royal law” (v. 8)?
6. It what ways is the royal law “easy to understand, but hard to believe”? How should we live this law out in speech & action?
7. What is mercy? What does the gospel of Jesus demonstrate for us about mercy? How does mercy triumph over judgement?
8. Share a time when you received mercy. Is there someone to whom you need to show mercy?
9. How is Christ the both the end to the moral law and the fulfillment of the royal law?
10. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the mercy we have in Jesus Christ. Ask Him to reveal to you if there is someone to whom you need to show mercy instead of judgement. Pray for the faith to step out in obedience in showing mercy.

VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENTS
During 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

Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship
Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – Death of Death by Charlie Hall
Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 8

God’s moral law tells us how to live, but condemns our every attempt to live it. Yet obedience to His holy standard sets us free from being  slaves to sin. We obey out of God’s love, not to earn God’s love.

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 2:8-11 and Romans 6:12-19. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What encouragements, warnings or commands are here for us to heed?
3. How is the term “law” used in these verses? How does the law condemn us? At the same time, how is this also a “law of liberty” (James 1:25)? What is the relationship between law and grace?
4. Since we are no longer under God’s moral law, but under grace (Romans 6), should we still obey the law? Why or why not?
5. What’s the difference between obeying the law and being under the law?
6. How do we tend to compartmentalize our sin? What are the effects of this?
7. How does the gospel of Jesus absorb the curse of the law for us? How then should we live?
8. Spend time in prayer thanking for His perfect law, which points us to Jesus. Ask Him to help you grow in grace-fueled obedience.

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

Closer (Psalm 89:14-15) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong Worship

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

Glorious (Psalm 111:2-3) – Glorious by Paul Baloche

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

Christ is Enough (2 Cor. 12:9) – Glorious Ruins by Hillsong Live

TEACHING: James – Living Out Our Faith, Part 6

No sin so blinds the human soul as favoritism. We are often not so much partial against others as we are for ourselves.

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 one way in which you tend to struggle with partiality, favoritism or bias toward others? From others?
3. Read and discuss James 2:1-4. What do these verses tell us about us? What do they tell us about God? What context does James 1 give to these statements? What warnings or commands are there for us to heed?
4. “No sin so blinds the human soul as favoritism.”Have you observed this statement to be true? How?
5. Why is it “second nature” for us to be partial in ways that strain, inhibit or damage relationships?
   
6. How does the gospel help us see others as “imago Dei” – in the image of God? Why is this important?
7. Spend some time confessing areas where you show partiality and ask God to reveal any hidden areas of favoritism in your life. Give Him thanks for His impartial mercy in the gospel of Jesus.

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.