Devastation at the hand of God

Here's the link to the Sermon: God disciplines... 

 

Reading: Joel 1

1. Verse 1. What do we know about Joel? e.g. where did he live, who did he minister to, what did his and his father’s name mean? Does any of this matter?
2. Verse 2, why do you think Joel started off addressing the elders?
3. What do you make of a God who would deliberately bring such unpleasantness and damage to people?
4. Discuss how Deuteronomy 28 fits in with this?
5. How had these people messed up? What was their sin? (verse 12 gives a clue)
6. What is an idol?
7. How does all of this apply to us today?

Aspects of Love

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Aspects of Love

Reading: John 13: 31-38

1. Take a re-cap of the happenings over this meal. Consider the thoughts and feelings of the disciples at the beginning and how they might have changed as the meal goes on to the point in verse 33 when Jesus says He is going and they can't follow.
2. Discus all the aspects of Jesus love (verse 34) that you can come up with as a group, to consider how exactly we're supposed to be loving each other within our fellowship.
3. What stops us from loving one another? Try and look at this from various angles (spiritual, emotional etc. etc.)
4. Consider, as a group, whether there is anything you could commit to do, to more actively make that Christian love plain to others. This is a big question, so why not cheat a bit, ask the one who can give you the answer...
5. Why does the church, and specifically individual fellowships, fail to help people come to Christ? cf: verse 35.
6. As you close, use 1 John 1:7-17 to lead you into a time of prayer focussing on our response to Jesus command to love one another as He has loved us. 

 

A bit awkward?

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: A bit awkward?

Thanks to Russell for this week's questions!

Reading: John 13:1-17

1. Considering Jesus knew what was before him in respect of the cross. What was the significance of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples? Read Matt 20 v28
2. This very humble act from our Saviour and Lord is teaching us something - What is it? and how should we serve one another V16
3. How and Why did Peter react like he did when Jesus wanted to wash his feet and how did Jesus reply? 
4. Two great words we hear little of today but what's the difference between sanctification and justification?
5. How can we emulate Jesus' humility and love with one another and in church/workplace?

Getting to grips with being an honest Church

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


 Reading: Psalm 139
 

1. What are the kinds of things that we think of when we think about being honest, and when might we find ourselves justifying being dishonest?
2. Working your way through the psalm verse by verse, discuss what it has to say about our honesty as individuals, as part of a church family and in respect of the people we come into contact with who have no faith.
3. How should we deal with gossip in churches? cf: Proverbs 25:23; Eph. 5:11;James 3:7-8 Matt. 18: 15-20
4. Spend some time praying for each other and the integrity of every aspect of our church.
5. Homework - get int the habit of praying the words of Psalm 139: 23&24 

Getting to grips with: Being a Giving Church

If you missed it, here's a link to some notes: Getting to grips with: Being a Giving Church

 

Reading: Malachi 3: 8-12

 

1. How would you describe a giving church?
2. How might we rob God?
3. Why do we struggle to give back to God? Discuss what our use of time, money, experiences shows of our commitment to God.
4. Verse 9: does God curse us if we don't tithe?
5. What has giving got to do with worship?
6. Verse 10 includes the phrase "I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!." Discuss

Getting to grips with: Being a Worshipping Church

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


Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:8-36

1. Describe worship.
2. In this reading, the worship stems from the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. What is that and why was it so important?
3. Take time to go through this 'psalm' it is a call to worship - talk about the various commands: what they mean and why they are important.
4. Corporate worship (worship together is important. How can we encourage each other in worship and in which ways might we disturb other people from worshipping?
5. In your closing prayers spend some time giving thanks and praise in prayer before moving to intercession.

“TEN WAYS TO HINDER THE CHURCH"

I picked this up a few days ago when looking for something else. It's the basis of a sermon outline from George Butterfield.

 

 

First it amused me, next it got me thinking - it's a sad and sorry list as there's such truth in it, but I'd love to have heard the sermon - Church leaders reading through this list will be audibly shouting yes!

 

1. Do nothing to help the church2. Stay away from every service3. Find fault with everything and everybody4. When asked to do anything, say, "I can't."5. Rebel against the elders and leaders of the congregation6. Cause trouble whenever it is possible7. Don't bridle your tongue8. Get a hobby horse and ride it9. Be a dictator10. Be worldly

I wonder if we might use it as a checklist for our prayers of repentance. Despite this we must thank God for His incredible gift to us of His Church, His Bride, His delight, and most of all His Grace and Mercy.

  

Who Killed Jesus?

Reading: John 11: 45 - 57
 
If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Who Killed Jesus?  

1. Verses 47-48 This is a major change in tempo, the top people were meeting?
1. What made them react so seriously and quickly?
2. What was the aim of their meeting?
3. Did they doubt Jesus miraculous power?
2. Verses 49-52 are the key to this passage.
1. Why are these verses important? In the sermon we picked out four points, what were they?
2. Can you find any others?
3. Who Killed Jesus and why?
4. Think back over the first 11 chapters of John.
1. Discuss as a group things which might have struck you for the first time or you have been reminded about?
2. What picture of Jesus has come through John's account so far?
3. What have you picked up through the teaching, discussion and prayer around John that has impacted your life? Talk this through as a group.

Back on the right track - again

Joel 2:25-26 reminds us:

I will restore to you the years

that the swarming locust has eaten...

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the Lord your God,

who has dealt wondrously with you.

There will be times in our lives when we slip, when we think we've listened to God guiding us, but we get it wrong...

When that happens let's not make the mistake of allowing the enemy to convince us that we’ve suddenly become second class Christians. God’s grace is sufficient!

You see the devil will spin a tale something like this:

        Your life is planned out for you by God, who acts like some kind of cosmic travel agent. So as long as you turn up in the right place at the right time and stick to His itinerary then you’re fine… But the moment you miss one of the connections God has sent you to the plan is ruined. Yes if you ask Him, God will draw up another one for you, but it will always be a bit second best, it can you can never really recover, not properly…

Don’t ever believe that; don’t believe the lie that God doesn’t have the wisdom or the resolve to, immediately you ask Him, pick you up, dust you down and set you on the best, the perfect, path for you. God can and does graciously restore us, when we let Him…

Not Just A Light

Reading: John 8:12 - 30
 
If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Not Just A Light  

1. Discuss verse 12, what does it mean? What is the impact of this verse on us today, and how should we apply it?
2. Compare verse 13 - 18 with John 5:31. What is different about the two situations?
3. Consider how taking Jesus words out of context can have devastating consequences.
4. What were the Pharisees getting at in verse 19?
5. Take a look at the remainder of the passage what was Jesus trying to get the Pharisees to understand?

Sin - A Three Act Play

Reading: John 7:45-8:11
 
If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: A Three Act Play...   

1. Read through to the end of chapter 7.Talk through what happened when the temple police got back to base without making an arrest: consider the things the different characters said. What can we learn from this scene?
2. In the sermon we split the next section into three acts. Chat through the three separate acts and discuss each part with the intention of listing as many things as you can that we can learn and apply to our lives today. This is quite a major exercise and could take most of the time you have for questions.
3. Spend some time praying together for the needs of each other, the life of our church and the impact of the Gospel in our lives and the lives of others we meet.