Jeremiah: Part 1

Message: Life on Purpose

· Jeremiah 1:1-10

a. God trusted a teenager to be His mouthpiece to the nations.

· God called Jeremiah because he knew the voice of God. When God called, Jeremiah listened because he was in relationship with God.

· What has God purposed in your life?

1. To know and love God.

2. To serve and bring hope to the world.

· God’s will and purpose is not in the future, it is in the process.

· When we know and love God, we begin to see the world as He sees it and our hearts begin to meld into His heart.

· God promises an adventure of a lifetime with Him, not “success” by the world’s standards.

· Life has no value apart from a relationship with God. (2 Tim 4:6-8)

· Enemies will come at you, but they won’t defeat you because God is with you. (Jer 1:17-19)

· Your purposeful pursuit of God is His will for your life. (Jer 29:12-14)

· To find your purpose, be in relationship with God and trust Him.

Questions

1. Rather than holding onto God, what have you held onto in hopes of discovering your purpose in life?
2. Do you find it easier to “serve and bring hope to the world” or to “know and love God”?
3. What have you desired God’s will to be in your life?
4. How do you reconcile the world’s definition of success vs. God’s definition?
5. Do you find peace in knowing your purpose is to love and know God?
6. How do you feel about your relationship with God? Bored? Excited? Intrigued? God probably feels the same way.

Parenting

Message: Parenting

· 2 Chronicles 20:10-12

a. Example of how King Jehoshaphat prayed

b. First half, shows humility - - he didn’t know what to do

c. Second half, shows trust - - their hope is in God

i. Great prayer for parents

· Is God first in your life?

a. Does God get your first day of the week for worship? (Going to church)

b. Does God get the first part of your day?

c. Does God get your tithes?

d. Are you other-centered, not self-centered?

· Seven important things to focus on when parenting:

a. Pursue Jesus with your whole heart

b. Love their mom

c. Express your deep love to your kids

d. Parents are in charge, not the kids

e. Raise your kids to leave home

f. Enjoy them

g. Pray for them and with them

· If you want your child to love God, love God first.

· If you want your child to be obedient, obey first.

Questions

1. If you were starting parenting all over again, what would you do?
2. What would you have liked your parents to have done when raising you?
3. Are you putting God first in your life? Do your children see this example?
4. How well are you “loving” your wife? How well do you feel your husband is “loving” you?
5. Of the seven important things to focus on listed above, which is the most challenging for you?
6. Is there another “focus” you would add to this list?
7. Ask God to reveal any areas of pride or guilt you are harboring from parenting.

Compassion and Justice

Message: Compassion and Justice

· We need to have God’s heart for compassion and justice.

· We need to be externally focused.

· Bible verses that reflect this responsibility:

· Exodus 22:21-23

· Psalm 82:3-4

· Proverbs 19:17; 31:8-9

· Isaiah 58:6-7

· James 1:27

· Jeremiah 22:16

· Zechariah 7:9-10

Questions

1. What takes the focus away from God being compassionate and just?
2. How can we show the world God’s heart for them?
3. Are you involved in an externally focused ministry?
4. What are some obstacles that prevent you from reaching out?
5. Are you reaching out as a small group?
6. Pray about adopting a child from Haiti as individuals and as a small group. ($35/month)

One Church

Message: One Church

· There is oneness in the triune Godhead. (John 17:20-21)

· There should be the same oneness of spirit, heart, and purpose in the church.

· Jesus prays for:

a. Himself (John 17:1-5)

b. His disciples (John 17:6-18)

c. Future believers (John 17: 20-26)

· Revival in communities happens when the churches and pastors are united.

· Why is this so important to God?

a. Unity is inherently good because it reflects love.

b. Anything united has more power/impact.

c. Without unity, we are more vulnerable to Satan.

· How would we know there is only one church in our community?

a. Speak well of other churches.

b. Join together for local and foreign missions.

c. Be concerned with how the Kingdom is advancing in our community.

d. Pray/worship together and have events together.

Questions

1. In praying for revival in our community, what would you pray for?
2. What positive and negative impacts does the church in the U.S. have on society?
3. Have you experienced “oneness” in a community of churches?
4. Why do we have a spirit of apathy/resistance to church unity? (competition, fear, jealousy.)

Sermon on the Mount: Part 16

Message: Contrasts

Matthew 7:12-29

· What it means to love others (Golden Rule): to serve, listen, show patience, care.

· Series of contrasts: 2 gates, 2 trees, 2 destinies, 2 foundations

· Narrow gate = Jesus/life

· Broad gate = anything else but Jesus/death

· You can tell false prophets by their fruits

· Five indisputable, basic, biblical truths:

o Authority of the Scripture

o God is a triune God

o Jesus is fully God and fully man

o Resurrection of Jesus

o Salvation by grace

· Jesus openly claimed to be God (because He is) and was doing the will of the Father

· The storms of life will reveal whether you’ve built your house on solid foundation/the Rock/Jesus or sand.

o If it is built on the Rock, no matter what comes, you will not be shaken.

Questions

1. When faced with the reality of the narrow gate and the broad gate, does it change your sense of urgency, or your heart, for the lost?
2. Have you ever been exposed to false prophets? How did you come to know they were false?
3. Just as Jesus carried out the will of the Father, how are you being called to carry out His will?
4. What storms have you faced or are you facing? How solid is your foundation?