Courageous and Compassionate

Here's the link to the Sermon: Courage and Compassion

Reading: Amos 7

1. Take a few minutes to recap on what Amos has taught us so far.
2. Verse 1 - what is a vision, and what is it not?
3. What do the visions in verses 1-7 show about God's judgement?
4. What does this teach us about prayer - can you make God change his mind?
5. Discuss the meeting with Amaziah. What does this show of Amos' character, attitude and behaviour, and what should we learn and apply from it? 
   
   

Happily ever after?

Here's the link to the Sermon: Happily ever after? 

 

Reading: Joel 3

1. As we come to the end of Joel, it's worth taking a recap of the whole message God has given through the book, and so before looking at this passage discuss what has happened up to this point.
2. Who will be judged and why?
3. Which other books in the bible, both OT and NT have similar messages or messages that fill in some of the gaps?
4. Application - What is the message of this passage to us today, as a nation, a church and individuals?

This is That

Here's the link to the Sermon: God Pours Out His Spirit 

 

Reading: Joel 2:28-32

1. What has Joel been talking about up to this point (i.e. in chapters 1&2:1-27)? How does that relate to this passage?
2. In the sermon there was some discussion about how we should read the bible in a ‘Jewish way’. How will that help us?
3. When you hear the title, ‘Holy Spirit’ what thoughts and ideas come to mind? Spend some time discussing this as a group.
4. Discuss:
   1. What are verses 28 and 29 referring to?
   2. What are verses 30 and 31 referring to?
   3. Where does verse 32 fit in?
5. What role would you say the Holy Spirit plays in the life of our church (consider points raised in the sermon), from day to day? Where do you see the evidence of His work? Can you think of any situations where we need to rely more on the leading of the Holy Spirit?
    

For personal study:

What role would you say the Holy Spirit plays in your life, from day to day? Where do you see the evidence of His work? Can you think of any situations where you need to rely more on the leading of the Holy Spirit?

The truth about prayer

Wrong ideas about prayer...

...well they range from asking for what you want, to expecting God to change His mind to match your plans, to maybe assuming prayer doesn't matter because He knows it all already... and no doubt you could add many, many more?




So what's the truth about prayer?

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—but it is not my will, but yours, that must be done.” Luke 22:42

Well the truth is not that prayer twists His arm or changes God's mind, but instead that our prayer, produced and nurtured as it is by God Himself, becomes the way by which we can enter into God's 'mind'. So we end up by asking God to do what He had always planned to do, once He had got us to the point of asking Him to do it, with a genuine belief that He would.
If we really want to see God's power at work in answering our prayers (and let's face it there would be something a bit awry if we don't), our job is not to convince ourselves of the certainty of what we've just decided to ask for will happen, just because we've decided it will... No our job in prayer is instead to ask God, to seek His will, His desires about all the needs and issues that surround us and threaten to overwhelm us; then we can allow Him to show us just how to pray within His will so that we're genuinely praying - Your will be done!

My Way or the Highway

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: My Way or the Highway  

Reading: John 14: 15-24

1. According to v. 15, what is the indication that one loves Jesus? What can those who love Jesus expect (v. 21 & 23)?
2. Share with one another some experiences or aspects of your life that you love Jesus? Do people around you know that you are different? Discuss.
3. What commands do we struggle with as Christians and what commands does the world ignore. Why is it so important to be 'salt & light'?
4. In v17 Explain why the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit? What must we do to receive him?
5. What is different about the role and character of the Holy Spirit?

Some Staggering Claims

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Some Staggering Claims 

Reading: John 14: 7-14

1. Verse (5 &) 8. What have Thomas and Philip failed to understand about Jesus? Then verses 7, 9 & 10: Do people still struggle with this truth?How important is this truth to us as Christians? To the church?
2. Discuss verse 12, What do you understand from Jesus statement here? Greater in what way? What condition(s) does this verse contain?
3. Why do you think the church isn't seeing more of these "greater" works? Discuss what we as individuals and a church an do about it.
4. Verses 13 & 14 contain a stunning promise. Discuss the word anything (in the context of what Jesus has said from verses 1 to 12). Does this mean we will get whatever we ask for? Explain.
5. Prayer should always be within the will of God. What does this mean and how do we do that?
6. There is a lot in this passage for us to apply to our lives. What is that and how do we do it?

 

Getting to grips with: Being an Expectant Church

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Getting to grips with: Being an Expectant Church


Readings: Matthew 24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1. What is the point of advent?
2. What does the bible tell us about Jesus return?
3. Has anyone in the group heard a sermon series on Revelation? Why does it, and other parts of the bible like it, often get ignored? Does it matter?
4. If we're expecting Jesus to return what difference should it make in our lives and the life of the church? In the sermon we covered 3 but there will be more, spend some time as a group discussing each one.
5. Pray through the application of this study for each other, as a group and for the wider church.

Only when we live our faith will we really get it...

Reading: John 7:1-24

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Are you missing the point?  

1. Think about and discuss why Jesus' brothers suggested all the things they suggest (verses 3-4).
2. Verse 5 says Jesus' brothers didn't believe– discuss the difference between true faith and a misplaced or false faith.
3. Look at verses 10-13
• why did Jesus go secretly?
• what did Jesus mean by "my time"?
• consider how you measure up to verse 13 - are you afraid to speak the whole gospel in public (not just the politically acceptable parts)?
4. Verse 17 - how is it that we can know the truth of Jesus's teaching? we looked at this for some time in the sermon. Why is it crucial to a Christian?
5. What was the thing that had really upset the religious leaders? Talk through how Jesus answers that.
6. Read verse 24 in different translation, then discuss it.

For Christians Only!

How do we approach our Worship Services?

• Are we expecting to meet with the Living God?
• Are our hearts and heads “in the right place”?
• Do we come in good time?
• As we gather are we focussed and quietly waiting and thinking on God?

or

• Are we expecting to catch up with our friends for a chat?
• Are our heads and hearts befuddled and full of all of the stuff of life (and maybe the stuff of the night before)?
• Do we arrive “by the skin of our teeth” and then decide grabbing a coffee is a priority over grabbing a seat?
• As we gather do we shout across the sanctuary and talk over the worship group?

There are times when The Lord brings us up sharp and reminds us that we are His: to glorify Him, to worship Him, to be amazed, astounded and in awe of Him to relish Him, to revere Him, and I believe that the Lord is bringing us as a fellowship to that point, He is saying to us, “it is great that you are a welcoming, loving caring church – it is great, and I will have it no other way. But I AM The Lord and I want to be welcomed over and above others, for the purpose of my glory, and that in worshipping me and coming close to me in obedience, you will be blessed as I desire to bless you.”

Will there be times we:

• need to quietly welcome someone new?
• find our children are a bit chatty?
• we are a bit late, because things happen?
• it just all goes a bit pear shaped?

Yes of course there will be those times, and God knows all about it, stuff happens, but He is reminding us where our focus should be. Our God is no tyrant, but He is a God of loving discipline and He calls us to be disciples.

 

So you see, this really is a message for Christians only…

Some Study Questions for HouseGroups and Individuals

1. Do you feel offended by this issue being raised? Explore why that might be?
2. Why does our attitude to approaching worship matter?
3. How does the behaviour of Christians in Church affect the behaviour of those new to faith or searching?
4. What practical things can we do to help each other in this respect?
5. Why is God’s grace key to how we encourage one another in our discipleship?
   

Scripture is full of incredible descriptions of how awesome and wonderful our God is. Be encouraged!

Isaiah 6:3

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!

    The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

 
Psalm 33:8

“Let everyone in all the world

—men, women, and children—

fear the Lord and stand in awe of him.”

 
Psalm 46:10

 “Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honoured by every nation.

    I will be honoured throughout the world.”

 
Matthew 5:23-24

“If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.