Message Title: Children of God

Series: Romans 8

Key verses:
Romans 8:12-17

Sermon Notes

Apostle Paul gives several reasons why we cannot continue being slaves of sin.

1.  We have a debt of gratitude to God to live according to His Spirit. (Rom 8:12)
2.  Living according to the flesh will destroy you. (Rom 8:13)
3.  We are now children of God. (Rom 8:14-16).
4.  We are heirs to a Divine Kingdom that begins in suffering and ends in Glory (Rom 8:16-17)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

Getting to Know You:

If you had a choice of parents, who would you choose?

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 Genesis 3:1-6. How did the serpent (Satan) get Adam and Eve to sin against God? How does the Devil get us to sin against God today? What’s the similarity in tactic?
2. Read John 5:18. How did Jesus address God and why did the religious leaders find that offensive?
3. Read Romans 8:14-16. How does being a child of God set us free from the bondage of sin? What does fear do to us? How did Jesus deal with our fears?
4. Read Romans 8:16-17. If we are heirs, what is our inheritance? Why is it important for the heirs of God to reflect the moral attributes of God?
5. Read Rom 7:18-19, 24-25. Is there anything in your life that you find difficult to surrender to Jesus? Why is it hard to let give up or let go?

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:The Conversion of an Influential Pharisee

Key verses:
Acts 9:4-5

Sermon Notes

In those three days, Paul:

1.  Changed his mind about Jesus. (Romans 1:1-4)
2.  Changed his mind about the Law. (Romans 3:19-20)
3.  Changed his mind about salvation. (Romans 6:23)
4.  Changed his mind about the church. (Acts 9:3-4, 1 Tim 1:12-15)
5.  Changed his mind about Gentiles. (Romans 1:1-5, Gal 3:28)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

Getting to Know You:

Who do you know that had a dramatic conversion experience?

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 Acts 9:1-31.  Describe what happened in verses 3-9 from the viewpoint of one of Saul’s companions.
2.  How do you think you would feel if you were in Ananias’s place?  Have you ever tried to help God understand a situation like Ananias did?  Why do you think we do this with God sometimes? How do you think this makes God feel?
3.  What do you think is significant about the way Ananias addressed Saul?  How do you think that made Saul feel?
4.  Consider the influence of Saul/Paul in the Early Church. How many books did he write?  Look at the missionary journeys he took and the churches he planted and encouraged. Looking at our world today, who do you think are some of the most influential Christian leaders today?  Who has been the most influential person God has used in your spiritual journey and how do you think God has used you to influence others?

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: Principles of a Biblical Friendship

Key verse:
1 Sam 18:1-4

Sermon Notes

1.  Spiritual growth happens in meaningful relationships. (Heb 10:24-25)
2.  Biblical friendships happen around the presence of God.  (1 Sam Ch 17)
3.  Biblical friendships are willing to sacrifice for each other. (1 Sam 18:1-4)
4.  Biblical friendships are willing to defend each other.  (1 Sam 19:4-5)
5.  Biblical friendships give you the freedom to be real.  (1 Sam 20:41)
6.  Biblical friendships encourage you in the Lord.  (1 Sam 23:15-16)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

Getting to Know You:
Who is your best friend?  How did you meet and how long have you been friends?

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.  In your spiritual journey what Christian friend has had the most impact in your life?  How did God use them and how do you think God used you in their life?
2.  As you read the story of David and Jonathan, what do you think is most unique about their friendship and what is the closest that you have come to a friendship like theirs?
3.  Read Jn 15:12-14.  Do you believe that friendships are based on conditions?  What are your conditions for your friendships? What do you see are God’s conditions for friendships?
4.  What do you think Jesus is asking you to obey in Jn 15:12-14?
5.  Read Jn 13:34-35, 14:15-24, Jn 15:9-14.  How would you sum up what Jesus is trying to say in these verses?
6.  Looking at the notes of the Sunday message, how would you rate Jesus as a friend to you?  How do you rate your friendship to Jesus?

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:  Walking on Water
Series:  Signs

Key verse:
John 6:12-20

Sermon Notes

Signs are designed to communicate. This third sign tells us that:

1. God has the power and authority to walk wherever He wants on His creation even if it’s H20.
2. His ways are higher than ours.
3. Our faith will be tested by God.
4. When He is out of our sight, we are never out of His.
5. When Jesus sends you into the storm keep rowing.

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

Getting to Know You:
What was the most  frightening  weather  you have ever been in?

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 6:12-20. In this section, John recorded two amazing signs that Jesus performed (feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water) in less than 24 hours.  These signs threw the disciples across a wide range of human emotions from excitement and anticipation to confusion, fear, and astonishment.  Have you ever experienced this in your spiritual journey with Jesus?  Please share.  In looking back on that time, did you ever discover what God was teaching you?
2. In these two signs, the disciples were struggling with what they expected Jesus to be and do. In your own spiritual journey, how has your understanding/perceptions of Jesus changed over the years?
3. Read Matthew 14:21-24, Proverbs 3:5-6. Pastor Frank believes Jesus went up on that mountain and was praying for the disciples in the boat.  Do you agree or disagree? What do you think Jesus was praying for?  When Jesus sees you and prays for you, what do you think He sees and prays for?
4. What was the greatest storm you ever went through in your life and how did Jesus speak to you in it?
5. Read John 6:5-6, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:3-7 and Galatians 6:7-8. What do you think the difference is between being tested by God and reaping what we sow in our poor decisions?  Have you ever seen a person confuse these two?
6. Read John 6:16-20. Where in your life do you need Jesus to say, “It is I, don’t be afraid”?

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:  Healing of the Invalid
Series:  Signs

John 5:1-18

Key verse:
John 5:6, 18

Sermon Notes

Signs are designed to communicate. This third sign tells us that:

1. Some people don’t always want to be healed.
2. God is ultimately sovereign in His actions.
3. This sign was primarily for the religious leaders in Jerusalem.
4. This sign was to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.
5. Healing is not found in superstition,  but in a Savior.

Getting to Know You:
When you were a child, did your family ever have any strange remedies for sickness that they believed in?

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 5:1-6. Why do you think Jesus chose to heal the oldest person at that pool?  Why do you think Jesus asked him this question?  Pastor Graham is quoted as saying, “There are some people who are happier being miserable than changing”.  Have you ever met people that didn’t want to get well and if so why do you think they are like this?  Was there ever a time in your life when you were “stuck” and didn’t want physical, mental, or spiritual healing?  Please share.
2. Read John 5:8, 14-15. Do you think Jesus was wrong to heal this man when he didn’t ask to be healed?  Jesus warned the man that he is well and to not go back to a sinful life style.  Do you think he did go back or do you think he experienced true life change?  Have you ever seen someone squander God’s healing touch of grace and mercy in their life?  Please share.
3. Read John 5:8-13. What do these Scriptures say about the heart of the religious leaders in Jerusalem?  Have you ever experienced religious legalism where people are more concerned with the rules than people?  Why do you think some people are like this?  How do you think we can avoid becoming like these people as we follow Jesus?
4. Read Psalm 2. The word “anointed” means Messiah. This is known as a Messianic passage written at the time of King David about a thousand years before Jesus was born.  What does this chapter reveal about the identity of the coming Messiah?
5. Read John 5:16-18. At the end of this third sign in John’s Gospel,  two things happened:   a man was healed and the beginnings of a controversy broke out between Jesus and the religious leaders over His identity as divinity.  Why do you think the religious leaders had a problem with Jesus claiming to be the Son of God?  Why do you think it is important to know who Jesus really is?  Read Jn 17:1-3.  If you are going to have a relationship with a person, how important is it for you to really know them?  Do you think this is any different in our personal relationship with God?

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?