Understanding the Distance Between God and Us (John 1:1-5)
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Sermon Outline:
We are the furthest thing from God… (John 1:1-3)
…but God is no longer the furthest thing from us (John 1:4-5).
Discussion Questions:
What aspects of the Christmas season personally distract you from Jesus?
What plans do you have to keep Jesus first in your heart this Christmas? Do you have an Advent devotional you are going to do? Who will you process it with?
Where else, besides Jesus, do you look for life? How is that thing time-bound and finite/limited? How is Jesus better?
Straight Talk Leads to a Straight Walk (Galatians 2:11-21)
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From Hypocrisy to Humility
From Works to Faith
From Death to Life
Table Discussion
Have you ever had a conversation about not walking in line with the truth of the gospel? How did it go?
What do you think is your “plus” to the gospel?
What does it mean to you that Jesus not only took away your sins, but gave you his righteousness?
**This sermon was preached by Lucas Turner, a former partner of missio Dei: Falcon, currently on mission in Central Texas as a College and Young Adult Minister at a Baptist church.
Paul’s Journey Ends, the Story Continues (Acts 28:11-31)
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This is the 40th and final sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.
Sermon Outline:
Paul (finally) arrives in Rome (Acts 28:11-14).
God continually provides means of encouragement (28:15-16).
Paul faithfully continues his mission (Acts 28:17-31).
Helpful Quote:
“Acts provides the foundations of the newborn church through which we hope that the church in ruins will be reborn.” —Erasmus
Discussion Questions:
If you have been with us throughout our study of Acts, what have you learned? What themes stand out? How has this book encouraged you?
Do you ever feel hindered in sharing the Gospel? Read Acts 28:31. How does Paul’s bold proclamation and teaching “without hindrance” (while in prison!) encourage/challenge you?
This is the 39th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.
Sermon Outline:
The storms of life: Our best plans and most strenuous efforts (27:1-20).
The sovereignty of God: His provision and salvation (27:21-44).
The mission of God: Using the storms to bring salvation (28:1-10).
Helpful Quote:
“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” —C.S. Lewis
Discussion Questions:
Can you think of a “storm” in your life where you could see after the fact how God used it for your good? How does that change your perception of other storms?
Are you more likely to doubt that God has determined your destination, or that He is trustworthy with how you get there? How does this passage speak to you?
Do you have an example in your life of how God has used your experience with pain (like Paul’s snakebite) to minister to others?
In the kingdom, we receive comfort in a very different way than we’re taught to in American culture. We receive comfort not by, on the one hand, whining in our sense of entitlement or, on the other hand, pretending as though we’re happy. We are comforted when we see our sin, our brokenness, our desperate circumstances, and we grieve, we weep, we cry out for deliverance. —Russell Moore—
Four Parts of Lament (Mark Vroegop)
Turning to God
Bringing your complaint
Asking boldly
Choosing to trust
Until Jesus returns, the world will be marked by tears. Children will continue to be born and their first cry will announce their arrival into a broken world. To cry is human, but to lament is Christian. —Mark Vroegop—
Table Discussion Questions:
Why do you think it is difficult for us to Lament? What is the big difference between lamenting and complaining? (Hebrews 4:16)
What are some harmful things that can happen when we always try to edit our lives (internally or externally) towards the positive?
Pray for anyone at your table who is facing a difficult circumstance right now.
This is the 38th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.
Discussion Questions:
Does it feel to you like God is ruling and reigning over the circumstances of your life?
When have you been tempted towards discouragement with the circumstances of your life? How did God make himself known to you? How has God used those things in your life?
Have you ever made a decision (like Paul appealing to Caesar) that you only realized later was part of God’s plan in your life?
This is the 36th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.
Sermon Outline:
Take courage from the presence of Jesus (22:30-23:11).
Take courage from the sovereignty of Jesus (23:12-24).
Take courage from our citizenship with Jesus (23:25-35).
Discussion Questions:
Are you most tempted to doubt that Jesus is with you, that He is for you, or that you belong to Him? When do those doubts typically come? How does this passage help?
What would a person who is confident Jesus is with, for, and over them look like? If you were to fully believe this, what would tangibly change about your upcoming week?
What about this passage most helps you believe that, “It’s all going to be ok”?
