Message Title: A Mother of Noble Character

Sermon notes:

Proverbs 31:10-30

1. A mother of noble character prioritizes the needs of others. Proverbs 31:15-20
2. A mother of noble character finds her value in the Lord and is controlled by His opinion of her. Proverbs 31:30
3. A mother of noble character changes her children’s lives with her words. Proverbs 31:26; 18:21

 

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

Getting to Know You:
What is the funniest thing you remember your mother doing when you were growing up?

 

Quick Review:
Looking back from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

 

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Proverbs 31:10-31. How do you define character and how do you think people acquire it?
2. Do you think the woman described in these verses is simply an ideal to be aspired to or an actual flesh and blood woman, or both?
3. As you read these verses, what abilities make this woman praiseworthy in the eyes of her husband? Her children? The village community? The poor and the needy?
4. As we reflect on these verses, we see that God first impacts the heart of a mother and then uses her life as the epicenter to influence her marriage, her family, and then out into the community and the world. Do you think this is an exaggeration of the influence of a godly mom or a powerful reality?  Why or why not?  Read 2 Timothy 1:1-5.
5. Read Romans 5:3-4. It has been said that you can’t take your career to heaven but only your character. Paul says that character emerges as we stay faithful when life is difficult. How has God developed character in your life by leading you through difficult times? What did you learn? How did it change you?
6. Read James 3:2. None of us is perfect, but James suggests that if we can control the way we speak, the rest of our lives will follow. What are some ways that God could work through your life if you used your words to bless and encourage people? Who can you encourage with your words this week?
7. Read Proverbs 18:20-21. Solomon tells us that our words can bring a harvest to us if we use them for life and not death. Those blessings become apparent when we reach the end of our lives and see the influence we’ve had on those we loved. Share something someone told you that helped you, changed you, or encouraged you.

 

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?  Spend some time praying for the civil servants–that God would continue to give them courage, strength, and peace in their hearts as they serve and protect us.

Message Title: Two Thieves Gambling With Eternity

Key verses:

Luke 23:39-43; 1 Corinthians 15:16-20; Isaiah 53

Sermon Notes:

What did the two thieves have in common on Friday?

Notes:

1. They both had knowledge of Jesus.
2. They both had faith.
3. They both were gambling with their eternity on the person of Jesus.
4. Are you comfortable with your bet on Jesus? ______ (1 Corinthians 15:16-20)

 

Follow-up questions from Sunday’s Message:

Getting to Know You:

What was the worst bet you ever made in your life?

 

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

 

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Hebrews 11:1. What things do you think people have faith in every day that they don’t even realize?  Do you think it is possible for a person to not live by faith?
2. Read 1 Peter 1:6-9. What do these verses say about your faith in God?  How valuable is your faith to God and what do you receive by your faith?
3. As you reflect back on your spiritual journey, what things have been the greatest influences for your faith in Jesus? What things are encouraging your faith today?
4. Read Isaiah 41:21-24, Isaiah 42: 8-9, Isaiah 44:6-8. What does the God of the Bible say that He can do that no other god can do?
5. Read Isaiah 53:1-12. Who in all of history could this person be?
   1. Forsaken by his people? vs 3
   2. Pierced through, scourged for the sins of others? vs 4
   3. Silent during his trial before his accusers. vs 7
   4. Assigned death with wicked men…yet he was with a rich man. vs 9
   5. Who was called the “Righteous One”. No one in the Bible was called righteous…all called sinners, but this person is a Special person, sinless.
   6. Bears the sins of many! vs 11
   7. Died for others sins. vs 4
6. How does this prophecy fulfill what God said He could do in question 4?
7. Read 1 Corinthians 15:16-20. On a scale of one to ten with ten being the highest, how confident does the apostle Paul sound with his faith in Jesus?  How confident are you with your faith in Jesus and why do you think that is?

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?

Message Title: Stay With Me

Series: The Last 24 Hours

Key verses:

John 15:1-11

Sermon Notes:

1. God has always desired that His people would produce good fruit. (Isaiah 5:1-7)

The night before Jesus died, He told the disciples that:

2. God is planting a new vineyard. (John 15:1)
3. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. (John 15:2-4)
4. God desires in us fruits of righteousness and good (Philippians 1:11, Colosians1:10)
5. God desires in us the fruits of the Holy (Galatians 5:22-23)
6. God desires positive life changes (fruit) as we live in Jesus. (John 15:8)
7. We need to choose to stay close to Him. (John 15)
8. Apart from Him we accomplish nothing (John 15:5)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

 

Getting to Know You:

What is your favorite fruit to eat?

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Digging Deeper:

 

1. Read John 15:1-11. Knowing what had transpired on Thursday night and that Jesus was heading to the cross, in what emotion/tone do you sense Jesus is saying these words? In what emotion or tone would you be saying these words if you were Jesus?
2. As you read John 15:1-11, what verses or words catch your attention and why?
3. Read Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:10; Galatians 5:22-23. As a branch on Christ’s vine, how would you describe the fruit He has produced in your life?  What fruit has He produced in your life that you are most surprised about?
4. Have you ever seen a believer in Jesus enter a season in their life when they stop abiding in Him? Has this ever happened to you and if so, what did you learn from that season?
5. What do you think it means to abide/remain and how do you think we can practically do this on a daily basis?
6. If Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, and God the Father is the “vine dresser”, what do you think God uses to prune us with? After some discussion, look up Job 23:10; Hebrews 12:11; James 1:2-4.
7. As you look back on your spiritual journey, what have been some of the hardest things God has pruned in your life, but looking back now you are grateful He did?

 

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?

Message Title: A New Commandment , A New Way

Series: The Last 24 Hours

Key verses:

John 13:33-38, John 14:1-14

Sermon Notes:

In the Upper Room:

1. Jesus tells the disciples that He is leaving them.
2. Where He is going they can’t follow.
3. Jesus commands His disciples to be known as a loving (John 13:34)

Jesus answers Peter’s question: “Where are you going?  Why can’t I follow?”

4. Only Jesus can go to prepare a place for us in (John 14:2-3)

Jesus answers Thomas’s question: “How can we know the way?”

5. I am the way to heaven. (John 14:6)

Jesus answers Philip’s request: “Show us the Father”

6. I and the Father are one. (John 14:9)
7. The greater work is in the scope of sharing the Gospel in love.

 

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

Getting to Know You:

When you are troubled, what symptoms show on your face and in your spirit?

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Digging Deeper:

 

1. What do you think Jesus was trying to teach Judas by washing his feet before he identified him as a betrayer? What do you think He is trying to teach us?
2. Read Mark 14:17-19. Why do you think they asked Him this question?
3. Read Psalm 139:23-24. How do you think this verse applies to the last question?
4. If you knew ahead of time that someone would stab you in the back, how would you treat that person? What does Jesus teach us about heavenly love with His dealings with Judas?
5. Read Matthew 26:17-25, 1 Corinthians 11:27-18. It appears that Jesus identified Judas and had him leave before He instituted the Lord’s Supper.  Why do you think that is?  What does this teach us about how we should approach communion today?
6. Read Philippians 3:4-11. Many theologians say that Paul was Jesus’ chosen replacement for Judas as the 12^th  If this is so, how would you compare the two?
7. What do you think Judas teaches us to watch out for in ourselves and in the church?

 

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?

Message Title: Healthy Churches Find Contentment in Jesus

Series: Philippians – A Letter to a Healthy Church

Key verses:

Philippians 4:10-20

 

Sermon Notes:

1. Healthy churches/people seek the mystery of contentment in Jesus. (Philippians 4:12)

What is Paul teaching to Philippi about Giving?

2. When we give, we give to God.
3. God sees when we give to Him in His name.
4. Paul says that when we trust God and give, we are fragrant to God.
5. He blesses us for giving.
6. It is credited to our account in heaven.
7. Healthy churches/people give to Jesus’ work.

 

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

 

Getting to Know You:

What was your favorite childhood toy and for how long did it make you happy?

 

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

 

Digging Deeper:

 

1. Read John 4:13-19. Apparently the “woman at the well” kept drinking from one failed relationship to another. What “wells” have you observed that the world drinks from that they think will bring satisfaction, but doesn’t?  What wells have you drank from that left you discontented and unfulfilled?  What do you think Jesus is trying to teach her and us in John 4?
2. Read Philippians 4:10-13. Paul says the he has learned the “secret” to finding contentment in any circumstance. What do you think that secret is and how important is verses 13 to Paul’s inner peace?
3. Where are you on the journey of learning this “secret” of contentment with Jesus in your life?
4. When would you say you were the most content in life? How do you think we can grow in this “secret of contentment” that Paul is talking about?
5. Read Psalm 50:10-12, Philippians 4:14-19. If God owns the world and doesn’t need our money, then why do you think it is important to Him that we learn to give to His work?  What do you think He is after in our hearts?
6. What do you think verse 17 is teaching? What account do you think Paul is talking about?
7. In verses 18 and 19, Paul says that giving to God smells good to God, pleases Him, and that He responds to this giving and will meet the giver’s needs.  Do you think that these rewards (Matthew 6) are in this life, the next, or both?

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?