Going Deeper

This is the first week of our sermon series titled “Are you kidding me”.  When you think back, are there a couple of situations where God has shown up in a big way to see you through where it left you saying “are you kidding me” – God did that for me?

Pastor Jeremy outlined 6 things that Jesus did after the resurrection.  Look through each of these accounts and discuss your thoughts on each.

1 – appeared to women (Matthew 28:1-10)

2 – appeared to his disciples (Luke 24:36-48)

3 – appeared to Thomas (John 20:24-29)

4 – restored Peter (John 21)

5 – commissioned his disciples (Matthew 28:16-20)

6 – ascended to heaven (Mark 16:19)

Of the 6 things noted above, what do you feel is the most “are you kidding me” on the list?  Why?

Do you fully know and understand that God has a purpose for you today?  What are some of those purposes that God has called you to?

This week’s big idea is that we experience joy when we are with Jesus.  What is your joy level (percentage)?

Explain the difference between joy and happiness?

The three main points of this message were that JOY can be experienced in all situations, JOY is refined under pressure and JOY is awakened when victory is realized through loss.  From these three main points, is there one that you currently identify with?  Explain what that is and why.

How does joy come from hardships? 

What are some of the things that tend to steal your joy (joy robbers)?

Stick with Jesus, walk with Jesus and experience JOY. How is your JOY and how near are you to Jesus?

1. Pastor Mike outlined some scriptures that he noted that he wasn’t fond of and are difficult for us to understand (see below for examples).  From this list of portions of scripture which ones are most difficult for you personally?

Statements I’m not fond of:

·        Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute

·        If you get hit in the face because of your faith, let them hit you again

·        Give to those who unfairly demand of you (clothes or time)

·        Go a second mile even though you are only obligated to go one

·        You’re blessed when you’re persecuted

·        If you want a great life, you must be the servant/slave of all

2) It was stated that there are 3 steps (give up, take up and get going) that we can take to stay connected to Him (Jesus) regardless.  With that in mind:

How do we Give up and Take up what Jesus said to Give up and Take up, so we keep going regardless?

3) There were 5 ways to be washed in the word of God that are listed below.  How are you applying each of these to your life?

·        Read it daily

·        Memorize it regularly

·        Study it consistently

·        Meditate on it constantly

·        Practice it faithfully

4) With our lives being washed in the word of God, how is your being washed effecting those around you?  Is there someone in particular that you are impacting?  Likewise, is there someone that is impacting you?

5) Are you connected in community within the church body?  If not, what is holding you back?

1.  Pastor Joey listed 7 problem areas that people face that sometimes causes them to turn away from following Jesus. 

Have you struggled with one of these? How did you overcome it? 

I’M WITH JESUS UNTIL…

1. DEATH of a spouse, child, parent, or friend. 
2. DIVORCE because of an affair or because I fell out of love.  
3. DREAMS are lost. Lost job, lost my business, lost hope for future. 
4. DISEASE- Cancer diagnosis.  Chronic pain.  Trauma or Accident.  
5. DAMAGED- Relationships, abuse, abandonment, betrayal. 
6. DESERTED by God, spouse, dad, mom, or friends. 
7. DESTINY- I am not where I want to be in this stage of my life.    

2. Read John 6:22-71. The crowd of disciples were offended by Jesus’ teaching and they left. 

 I’m with Jesus UNTIL I am offended.   

John 6:61 (NLT) Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 

John 6:66-67 (NLT) At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

John 6:68-69 (NLT) Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.  We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

3. Pastor Joey used an illustration about making allowance for other people’s faults. He used a money jar showing how much God has forgiven us and how we should be prepared to forgive others. 

Why is it difficult to forgive? Are you struggling to forgive anyone? Are you offended at God? 

Colossians 3:13 (NLT) Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

4. Pastor Joey concludes by giving people a time to forgive people and to once and for all restore your relationship back to God if you have been offended at Him. 

Explain what was going on with you. How would life be better if you could forgive and be restored to God?

Going Deeper sermon questions

1. Pastor Jeremy and Misti spoke of the difference between a contractual marriage and a covenant marriage. What are some covenants God made to the people of the Bible? How did He keep the covenants? Does He always?

2. If you and your spouse have talked through the oneness challenge for this week, what is something you can share with others about lies that you have believed about your spouse? How did your spouse dispel those lies and affirm the truth? How can you encourage others around you to affirm truth in you as well?

3. There were 5 areas to focus on to protect oneness in your marriage. Of the 5, what have you and your spouse decided to focus on first? Share this with others, and discuss how you might take steps in this direction? Look for insights from others as well. (Make a COVENANT Marriage, Maintain Intimacy, Manage Your Mind, Monitor Media, Minimize Temptations)

Oneness Challenge:

1. Sit on the couch or go for a walk and share with your spouse 3 things that you find interesting about them.
2. Discuss 3 ways that you can demonstrate a Covenant Marriage to the world.
3. Share with your spouse a lie that you believe and when that lie often pops into your mind?
4. Each spouse speak to the lie the other spouse is believing with truth. Encourage them with truth and love.
5. What mess have you walked through in marriage that you can now praise God for victory?
6. Both of you end by thanking God for and blessing your spouse in prayer.

1. What does it mean to be in a covenant marriage? Oneness starts with a covenant. How is a covenant different than a contract?

2. Pastor Jeremy said that we are to look to our spouse as God sees the church. How does God view the church, or the family of believers? What has He done, and is doing for the church? Does your marriage do the same for one another?

3. Oneness is not sameness. How are you different than your spouse in the areas discussed in service (finances, family, communication, family, parenting, etc.). How should you understand and celebrate those differences, instead of responding out of pride (my way is best)?

4. What are the things those in your group can do to best fight and protect your marriage? If not in a group, what steps can you take to join a group or find your people?

ONENESS CHALLENGE THIS WEEK:

1.  Find a place with no distractions and discuss the following questions. 

2.  Describe 3 valuable characteristics that your spouse brings to your marriage.

3.  Describe a time this past year when you felt truly one in your marriage.

4.  What does your spouse do that makes you feel one?

5.  Where do you think your marriage is vulnerable to a oneness attack?

6.  What are some ways that you can counter the attacks on oneness in your marriage?

7.  Hold hands and pray for God to guide you to a great place of oneness.

Matthew 28:18, Luke 4:18-21, Luke 19:10

1. What is my mission? What would others say my mission is?
2. What am I willing to do to reach people for Jesus? What am I not willing to do?
3. Where do I need to mature in my walk with Jesus?

Luke 10:38-42

1. Am I “with” Jesus?
2. Who do I relate most to in the passage? Mary or Martha?
3. When do I seek God? Is it first?
4. What am I worried and upset about?
5. What do I need to do to choose what is better?

2 Chronicles 7:11-14, James 5:13-18

1. What am I praying for right now?
2. Why do I need to pray?
3. What does prayer do? Does it really change anything?
4. Are there things in my life that are hindering my prayers?

Luke 10:25-37

1. Who is really my neighbor? (verse29)
2. Do I love God enough, to love someone that is different than me? How, or when have I done this?
3. How quick am I to write someone off because of my preferences? What preference hinders me from loving others?
4. Am I willing to be inconvenienced to love God and love others? What am I willing to do? What am I not willing to do?
5. Am I willing to bless someone this week?

Nehemiah 2-6

1. What type of opposition am I facing?
2. What distracts me from doing God’s work?
3. What advice can I give to someone facing opposition?

Joshua 3, Num 12:26-30,

1. How do I wait for God? What am I wanting for now? How can I actively wait on God? Ps 27:14, 62:5, 130:5
2. Do I look to Him, worship, when I wait? Micah 7:7 How do I worship (in His Word, with His Spirit, with His people)?
3. What is my next wise step as I actively wait? How am I walking with God?

1. How do I know that I am adopted into God’s family?
2. Once I am adopted can God un-adopt me?
3. Because of my adoption, I should imitate my Father. Who do I imitate? How do I imitate? Eph 5:1-2
4. How do I express love through our 7 Family Values? Gal 5:16, 1 Cor 13:13
   1. Put the goals and interests of others above my own.
   2. Live an open and honest life before others.
   3. Give and receive scriptural correction.
   4. Clear up relationships.
   5. Participate in ministry.
   6. Support the work financially.
   7. Follow spiritual leadership within scriptural limits.

When we wrestle with death it allows us to live in freedom!

John 14:1-6

Sunday, August 9

1. What do I fear about death?
2. In what do I place my hope? Does where I put my hope lead to despair?
3. Do I believe Jesus will come back to get me? Why?
4. Do I trust in God’s promises? What are they?

Sunday, July 26

1. Do I believe in the absolute authority of the Bible? 
2. Am I willing to fully trust Jesus with every aspect of my life?
3. Will I choose to live out my absolute identity in Jesus?

Luke 2:8-12

Sunday, July 12

1. When I think of Jesus, do I think about good news? What is a good news story from my life this week?
2. What does it mean to be the object, not the cause, of God’s love? 1 John 4:9-10
3. How has the good news transformed me?
4. Jesus commissioned the disciples to reproduce the good news. How am I reproducing good news? Mark 16:15

Matthew 4:17

Sunday, June 28

1. When is a time in your life that you made a You-Turn?
2. What are you ready to turn from now?
3. How close am I to His Kingdom?

God gives us what we need not what we deserve. 

Luke 15:11-32

Sunday, June 14

1. When is a time that I was far from God? Do I recognizes that the farther I am from God, the more exposed I am to hardship?
2. When have I been proud and self righteous? In these times do I recognize the feeling of not getting what I “deserve”?
3. How do I celebrate when the lost are found? 
4. How do I choose to draw near to God in times of trouble?
5. As I look at the parable of the prodigal, do I identify with the lost son or the son who stayed at home? Do I need grace or correction?

Hebrews 10, 1 Corinthians 13

Sunday, May 31

1. Why is it important for me to gather with other believers?
2. What are some things that I have neglected lately (physically, spiritually, relationally)?
3. What are some habits I need to break or put back in place?
4. What can I do to spur one another on? Who do I need to encourage?

James 4:13-17

Sunday, May 17

1. Do I seek God’s will before I make my plans?
2. What area of my life do I need to know God’s will?
3. What do I think that God wants me to do in order to find His will for my life?

Matthew 6-7

Sunday, May 3

1. Thinking about my friends and family, what are the unspoken fears they might be dealing with right now?
2. What do I do with my fear?
3. Starting today, if I were to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” instead of worrying or being anxious, what would I do?
4. How does fear spur us on to be vigilant and wise in a world that is dangerous and unpredictable?
5. How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge?
6. What are the ideas or idols that try to take God’s place in my life? What could I do to put God back in His rightful place?

Luke 24:36-45

Sunday, April 19

1. Do I experience God’s peace (presence of God that brings wholeness)?
2. Is my mind open to understand scripture? How do I do this? Do I believe that God can give me understanding?
3. Who helps me connect the dots of understanding God?
4. What is something you recently connected the dots of scripture to understand?
5. How is His Spirit convicting me to experience Peace (presence of God that brings wholeness)?
6. What encourages you the most about Jesus giving us His Spirit?

God wants to remove every obstacle that is keeping you from Him. God sent Jesus to restore, revive, and have a relationship with you.

Isiah 57

Sunday, April 5

1. What obstacle is keeping me from a relationship with God?
2. Do I believe that God can restore a crushed spirit? How have I seen God do this?
3. Is my heart repentant? What does being repentant mean to me?
4. You need courage to remove painful obstacles. When is a time I have received courage?

God Can Handle It

Psalms 13

Sunday, March 22

1. Where do I normally turn to in a time a lament? Do I turn to God or to something or someone else?
2. Do I complain to people or to God? How can I complain to God and engage with Him in my emotions?
3. Do I worry about what I have or don’t have? Do I ask God for what I need? How can I increase my prayer and decrease my worry?
4. Do I trust that God is in control? What areas of my life do I need to trust more? When do I worship?

I am a worshiper! There is a difference in Praise and Worship. Praise is an expression of respect or gratitude as an act of worship. Worship is the demonstration of value or worth to God.

Psalms 92:1-5

Sunday, March 8

1. What do I praise as an expression of my worship? Is my highest praise to GOD?
2. How do I view worship? Is it often based on my circumstances and feeling? What will I do to remember that God is always worthy of my worship? How do I know this is true?
3. When do I worship? How will I make worshiping God my lifestyle?