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.
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.
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
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.
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
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?
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.
On Sunday, Jeff explained the importance of genealogies inScripture. Genealogies help toremind us of the character of God, our identities in Him, what He has saved usfrom, and the mission He has given us. Jeff went through Genesis 10 to show us each of these characteristicsthrough the sons of Noah—Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Shem (reminds us ofthe character of God)
- How has God been faithful to you when you have not been faithful to Him?
- Do you always believe that God is trustworthy and faithful? Explain.
- Beg God to show your heart that He is always faithful.
Ham (reminds us of what He has saved us from)
- In what ways have you been like Nimrod? (i.e. You have felt as though you can do things without God)
- Jeff used Psalm 73 to show that one of the ways of fighting such arrogance is through community. What does Biblical community look like in your life?
- Live in Biblical community throughout the week, helping each other grow in Christ through admonishing, KEEP READING
This Sunday, Halim taught from Genesis 6-9, explaining that God was grieved by man's wickedness because He chose to bind His heart to ours', knowing that we would sin against Him. Halim showed how Noah, the flood, and the rainbow all point us to the redemptive nature of the Gospel.
Noah's righteousness and his family's undeserved salvation points to Jesus's righteousness and our own undeserved salvation.
By abiding in the ark, Noah was saved from judgment by the flood. By abiding in Christ we are saved from judgment by the cross.
The rainbow serves as a reminder that God's wrath is no longer turned toward those people who are saved by the righteousness of Christ.
In light of these truths, consider the following questions:
- What kept God from ending all of creation because of their wickedness?
- Do you view your life as a product of God's willingness to suffer? If not, what keeps you from believing that truth?
- Consider Noah and the salvation of his family. How do your responses KEEP READING
This Sunday, Matt taught on endurance and being completely satisfied in God. He showed that both Genesis and Matthew tell us that most people are willing to trade God's unfading love for the fading beauty of this world and fall away from Christ.
Take time to examine your heart condition and consider the following questions:
• Could the world offer you something that would cause you to fall away from Christ? Could the world make you a better offer?
• Is there anything that your heart loves more than Jesus?
• Is there any trial that would cause your love for Jesus to grow cold?
• Pray earnestly that God would persevere you until the end of your life.
On Sunday, Matt taught from Genesis 5:1-24 about a man named Enoch who walked with God. Hebrews11 explains that it was because of Enoch’s faith that he did not die butinstead was taken by God. Therefore, death does not have reign in our lives, but by grace through faith we have life in Jesus Christ.
The Gospel
- Take some time to define the Gospel.
- What ares of life do you find frustrating or aggravating?
- How does a resurrected Christ address these areas of your life?
- Pray that the Gospel would become apparent through these areas.
This past Tuesday we held a Q & A at the church offices regarding God's sovereignty over man's salvation...the infamous election and predestination. Below is a list of the questions we answered followed by a short summary and biblical support for our church's position.
FREE WILL AND PREDESTINATION
Q: CAN YOU BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE DEBATE AT HAND, DEFINING WHAT YOU MEAN BY ELECTION AND PREDESTINATION? HOW DOES THE ARMINIAN VIEW DIFFER?
First, I think it is important to keep in mind that this is something great theologians and great lovers of God have debated for 1000's of years, so this time is not designed or intended to bring a conclusion to that debate. However, we do want to use this time to check our hearts and minds and ask ourselves what God reveals about Himself, and is that revelation the foundation of what we believe about Him.
We must keep in mind that we're not dealing with a situation where Calvinists believe in predestination and Arminians don't. Both sides KEEP READING
This Sunday, Halim presented the Gospel while explaining how God displayed both His mercy and justice through Jesus' blood, shed for sin. He made it clear that Jesus on the cross is the only way to eternal life because it was the only way God could display all of Himself to us.
Here are some things to think about in light of this week's sermon:
• How do you deal with your sin after it occurs?
• What sin in your life keeps you from living completely for Jesus?
• Is your repentance more focused on the consequences of sin or God's view of your sin?
On Sunday, Matt taught from Genesis 4:1-9 about the progression of sin from Adam and Eve to their sons Cain and Abel. God told Cain that he must rule over his sin, and if he did not, that sin would lead to death. (Listen here.)
Here are some things to think through this week in light of the sermon:
Man's view:
• Make a list of the top five sins you struggle with.
• Of those sins, which ones do you consider small sins? Large sins?
• How seriously do you take those sins in your life?
• How do you deal? (Do you downplay them, dismiss them, get frustrated with them, etc.)
God's view:
• What kinds of sins does God consider small sins? Large sins?
• How seriously does God take sin in comparison to how serious you take sin?
• How does God desire you to deal with sin?
• For the next week, pray that God would give you the strength to actively fight these things in your life.
On Sunday, Jeff walked us through the consequences that sin brings into our lives (Listen here). We have only ourselves to blame for all of the misery and pain we meet in this world, and he mentioned how rarely we think about the consequences of our sin even though we are bombarded with its assault every day. He talked about the three relationships that were wrecked out by the fall.
Genesis 3:8-21
Relationship with God
- In what ways do you sense a lack of intimacy with God?
- Ask Him to let you know more about yourself and your condition through His Word
Relationship with Man
- Wives: In what areas do you have a hard time submitting to your husband?
- Husbands: In what areas do you "lord" over your wife rather than treat her gently and humbly?
Relationship with Creation
- When is the last time a natural disaster brought you to repentance?
- What would it look like for you to treat your work as a gift from God rather than a point of frustration?