Get Trained

Apply the Sermon: July 25th

2010-07-27T02:09:21+00:00

On Sunday, Darrin Patrick from The Journey in St. Louis taught on how we, as Christians, often times find our contentment in material things instead of God. Instead of seeking contentment in Him, we seek it in our life situations, our families, technology, etc, when we should really be seeking contentment in the only thing that can satisfy--God.

Here are a few things to consider:

Rate your contentment on a scale from 1-10. Why do you think you feel this way?
What are some things outside of God that you try to find contentment in? What do you believe will really make you happy outside of Him?
Knowing what these things are, pray that God would grant you the grace to not find contentment in them, but in Him instead.
Pray that God would be your strength and would be in control in your life.

Apply The Sermon: July 18th

2010-07-19T20:30:47+00:00

On Sunday, Pastor J.D. Greear from the Summit Church in North Carolina taught from John 12 on God’s heart for unreached people groups. He explained that God desires believers to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel and preach His message to all peoples.

Here are a few things to ponder:

How would your heart change if you viewed people who don't know Jesus as individuals and not just a statistic?
How can you best use your giftings to help reach the lost?
Pray that God would change your heart towards unreached people groups.
Pray that God would show you the best way to leverage your talents in reaching those who don't know Jesus.

For more information on the Austin Stone 100 People project, please visit 100peoplenetwork.org.

Apply the Sermon: July 11th

2010-07-12T22:25:32+00:00

On Sunday, Ronnie taught from Hebrews 11 on the difference between saving faith and “shameful” faith. Saving faith is a faith that realizes that we are sojourners on this earth, the earth is not our home, and that all of God’s promises will not be fulfilled in this life. “Shameful” faith finds satisfaction in the things of this world and security in salvation through what they know about God (facts alone), instead of actually knowing Him.

Write down a few instances where it was difficult to have faith in God’s promises (sufferings, trials, tribulations, etc).
What was your response to those times? Did you press further into God or draw away from Him?
How would someone with saving faith respond in those times? How would someone with “shameful” faith respond?
Pray that God would grant you saving faith

Apply the Sermon: July 4th

2010-07-06T18:08:50+00:00

Matt taught us that faith is believing what God has said and trusting our lives into it. Here are some questions to help you process through the sermon:

What are some symptoms in your life that might indicate that you are not trusting what God has said? Look for sources of anxiety, frustration, jealousy, or discontentment.
What are some specific things God says in His word that would provide you comfort if you believed them to be true?
Pick a couple of verses that provide you with truth and memorize them, praying and thinking on them throughout your week and asking God to build faith in you through them.

Apply the Sermon: June 20th

2010-06-23T14:08:13+00:00

In Genesis 13, we see the example of Abram being a peacemaker and giving up his rights as patriarch by allowing Lot to choose first which land he would settle. Abram valued peace and doing right by both God and man over defending his rights or taking what was his. Abram’s example shows that when we extend grace to others and put them first, we honor both God and man. We freely receive grace from God to freely give grace to others. We don’t freely give grace because we don’t properly value the grace God has given us.

Who in your life are you withholding grace or forgiveness from? What can you do to resolve your conflict with that person in a way that honors God and that person?
Pray for a better understanding of grace, so that you can unselfishly give grace.

Apply the Sermon: June 13th

2010-06-14T01:01:25+00:00

In Genesis 12 we watch as doubt seems to ruin everything for Abram, but we see that in the midst of his failure, God is faithful. Here are some questions to help you think through how to apply the sermon:

What is your famine? Abram trusted God's promise initially, but when a famine came into the land he panicked and began to doubt God's provision.

What are the circumstances that are making it hard for you to trust and believe God's promises? What things make it hard to believe He is working everything for your good?

What is your Egypt? Abram ended up losing his wife in Egypt and making such a mess of his life that it seemed impossible for God's promise to be fulfilled.

What are some ways you have ‘messed things up' so bad that it's hard to see how God's promises can still come true? If you are not there now, reflect on a time in your life when it looked like you had blown it.
Make a list of some promises of God that you are tempted to doubt. What behaviors, emotions or thoughts do you have that reveal that you are not trusting in God?

What is your Bethel? God rescued Abram from Egypt and blessed him in spite of his unbelief. Abram then returned to Bethel to reflect on God's faithfulness. He let his past inform his present and future by letting it build his faith.

What is a time or moment in your life when God's faithfulness has been clearly visible? What are the ways God has provided for you and rescued you in spite of your mistakes?
Find one or two stories in Scripture where you see God clearly displaying His faithfulness in the midst of failure. Thank Him for these 'Bethels' that are recorded to build your faith.
Send some time praying and asking God to let His past faithfulness fuel your future faith.

Apply the Sermon: June 6th

2010-06-06T22:46:42+00:00

On Sunday Halim taught us from Genesis 12 concerning God's call of Abram. Abram was living in Ur of the Chaldeans and the Lord told him to leave his country, his relatives, and his father's house. We learned that faith is trusting God with things that we can not see. The call to trust God is the call to put Him above all things in our lives, even the good things. In light of what we learned spend time this week considering the following questions:

What are the things in your life, good or bad (job, family, children, etc.), that if you lost, you would feel like you couldn't go on?
This is another form of idolatry, is it hard for you to see it that way? Why is that?
We learned that faith is birthed by God, pray that He would give you the strength to keep affections centered on Him.

Apply the Sermon: May 30th

2010-05-31T23:26:13+00:00

On Sunday Matt talked about how many of the Old Testament stories we have discussed so far reveal deficiencies in dealing with sin. Adam and Eve getting expelled from the garden, the Tower of Babel, and the flood all show that we needed a definitive defeat of sin. The problem of men's sins were only dealt with temporarily. Only through Jesus Christ do we have final freedom from sin.

Identify three or so sins that you struggle with the most
Are you relying on fortitude or the finished work of Christ to fight against these sins?
Pray that God would give you the strength to live like you are truly dead to sin

Apply the Sermon: May 23rd

2010-05-25T15:16:48+00:00

On Sunday, Jeff talked about how easy it is for us to neglect the little things that God has called us to for what we see as bigger and better. This is very dangerous for us because by forsaking the little things we can become just like the Pharisees who missed the heart of God. We too can focus on "big" things.

In light of what he discussed, consider thoughtfully the following questions:

How are you doing in the details of the Christian walk: prayer, reading the Bible, living on mission?
When you consider your job are you being faithful with the little things like walking in integrity, working hard, showing up on time?
Are there areas in your life where you are looking for a larger ministry (whether vocational or secular) platform but don't yet have it? Do you see any lack of faithfulness in your life concerning the small things that may be keeping God from entrusting you with more?

Apply the Sermon: May 9th

2010-05-10T20:25:21+00:00

This Sunday, Matt taught through the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-4) to reveal that idolatry is at the root of our sins. Our hearts are created with desires that only God can fully satisfy, yet in our unbelief we attempt to satisfy those desires with lesser things.

In light of the message this week, spend some time considering the following questions:

What people or things do you use to satisfy your desire for home, to be known, and to find significance?
On a daily basis, how do you settle for the mediocrity of the world rather than the greatness of God?
If you trusted God to fulfill your desires, how would your long-term goals change?
Beg God that He would be the only source of satisfaction in your life.