Pastor Frank

FollowUp 9-19-17

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Message Title: One Another

Series: Questions

Key verses:  Gen 3:6-13, John 16:33

Sermon Notes:

Notes:

In the Garden of Eden:

  1. There is not a need; everything is provided.
  2. There is no death, crying, pain, guilt, or shame.
  3. There is perfect love between God and human beings.
  4. There is perfect love between all human beings.
  5. Everything was happening there that you and I wish was happening today.

Why do bad things happen?

  1. Because we live in a fallen world.
  2. Because we are children of fallen parents.
  3. Because we use our freedom to make bad choices.
  4. Because sometimes we receive the consequences of another’s bad choices.

Follow up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker: Where is the most beautiful, peaceful place you have traveled/seen in the world?

1)  Read over the sermon notes 1-5. When you look at and study the Garden of Eden in Gen 2, what does it reveal to you about the heart of God for us?

2)  In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve make a poor decision to not trust God and in the end it had/has huge  consequences for all of God’s creation to this day. What do you think it says about the nature of God when He holds people (made in His image) morally responsible for their choices?

3)  Read Gen 3:11-13. When Adam and Eve are first confronted by God for what they had done, they tried to pass the blame. What do you think this reveals about our fallen nature?  Why do you think it’s so difficult for the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve to take responsibility for their poor decisions?  Can you think of a time when you tried to blame someone else for a mistake you made? Please share.

4)  Read John 16:33.  What do you think Jesus means when He says He has overcome the world?

5)  Read Isaiah 11:1-9 & Romans 8:19-22. The restoration of the world is tied to the revealing of God’s Messiah (Jesus) and His people at the end of the age. What are some things in this world that will be healed?

6)  Read Revelation 21:1-5. When you read these words and what God’s ultimate plan is for dealing with human brokenness and suffering, what does this reveal to you about the heart of God for us?

FollowUp 9-12-17

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Message Title: One Another

Key verses:  Acts 2:41-47, Heb 10:24-25

Sermon Notes:

Notes:

  1. Christian relationships are formed more effectively in circles rather than in rows.

In the Scriptures, we are commanded to:

  1. Love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, serve each other, accept each other, honor each other, forgive each other, be committed to each other, bear each other’s burdens, rejoice with each other, and teach each other in the love of Christ.
  2. Discipleship happens in meaningful relationships.

Follow up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker: As a child, who was the troublemaker in your family and who was the peace maker?

  1. Read Acts 2:42-47 and Hebrews 10:19-25, from these Scriptures how do you understand the Christian faith?
  2. How has your understanding of Jesus’ work on the cross encouraged your confidence in entering into the presence of God?
  3. Was there ever a time in your life when you “forsook” the assembly of believers? When was it and how did it affect your faith in Jesus?
  4. In what specific way can we spur another Christian on toward love and good deeds? How have you been spurred on by others in your faith?  Please share.
  5. Whose encouragement has meant the most to you in your past? Can you think of a time when God used you to encourage someone else in their faith?  What was it and how did it make you feel?
  6. How has God used your growth group/small group experiences in your past to get you to where you are today in your faith in Jesus?

FollowUp 9-6-17

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Message Title: The Making of a Heavenly Hero

Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses:  Hebrews 11:22

Sermon Notes:

  1. If we trust in our gifts and abilities, rather than the giver of our gifts (God), we can become arrogant and proud. Gen. 37:9
  2. If we trust in the wrong people we can get really disappointed. Gen. 40:23
  3. God is in control of the outcome of events, not man. He alone is absolutely trustworthy. Gen. 41:41
  4. The greatest enemy that we have to face is the enemy within. Gen. 42:7
  5. To defeat our dark side, we need to put our trust and faith in God.
  6. Faith in God allows us to see a reality that the human eye cannot see. Gen. 50:19
  7. The greatest waste is for a person to go through so much pain and learn nothing.

Questions:

Icebreaker: Have you ever been deeply hurt by a family member? How did you react to it then? How do you feel about it now?

Note: Joshua’s life was a process of experiencing good and bad, but eventually, God was able to use him because he did not give up during the tough times. Here are some verses for us to meditate on to help us see God in the difficult times of life.

  1. Read Romans 8:28-29. Have you been through a traumatic event or a big disappointment in your life and wondered why God allowed it to happen? How did you resolve the answer that question? How can this verse help bring light to the bad things that happen in your lives?
  2. Read Proverbs 3:5-8. Bad things happen and when they do, it can bring out the best or the worst in us. Sometimes starting with the worst and if we keep the faith, it brings out the best in us. How can this verse guide you when you go through turbulent times in your life?
  3. Even though we have strong faith in God, the pain we go through still hurts. Read Philippians 4:6-8. How can this verse help you process your pain and allow God to heal your heart?
  4. When we go through hard times, the temptation is to give up. Read Joshua 1:7-9. How can God’s presence help give you hope when you are discouraged?
  5. God put us on earth for a reason, and we can find meaning and fulfillment in life when we live our lives according to God’s will and purpose. Read Romans 12:1-2.  Why is surrender and trust in God necessary before we can see that God’s will is good and perfect?

FollowUp 8-30-17

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Message Title: Heroes of Faith

Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses:  Hebrews 11:1-7

Sermon Notes:

Faith is an active trust in God, not a hunch, opinion, or emotion. Heb. 11:1-3

  1. Faith means offering a better sacrifice. Heb. 11:4; Gen. 4:1-8
  2. Faith means living like God exists and believing He’s a loving Father. Heb. 11:5-6; Gen. 5:21-24
  3. Faith means obeying and living in contrast to the world. Heb. 11:7; Gen. 5:32-9:29

Follow up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker: Do you use social media? If not, why not? If you do, how does it make you feel when you get “likes” or friend requests?

  1. Read Hebrews 11:1-3. Why is it difficult to have faith in something you can’t see? Read John 14:5-9. How does knowing Jesus help us to trust God’s loving plan for our lives?
  2. Read Heb. 11:4, Romans 12:1. What is your biggest distraction from offering God your very best? What are some ways that you can offer God more of your life than you do right now?
  3. Read Luke 21:1-4. God cares about the heart of the giver, not the amount that is given. Why do you think the sacrifices we make mean so much to God?
  4. Read Gen. 5:22-24. This is all we know about Enoch, but his faithfulness and walk with the Lord caused God to remove him from the earth before he died. What does this suggest about the importance of walking with God? How can you walk with God more closely?
  5. Read Gen. 7:1. Why was Noah saved, along with his family? Read 2 Peter 3:10-13. Why should we not get drawn into the same mistakes as everyone else? How does this help you not to be influenced by the opinions of the non-Christian world?

FollowUp 8-22-17

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Message Title:  David and Goliath

Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses:  Heb 11: 32-34, 1 Sam 17:45-49

Sermon Notes:

 Learning from a man after God’s own heart:

  1. David doesn’t just see in the physical realm; he sees in the spiritual realm.
  2. David doesn’t just see a giant, but a man taunting God.
  3. David knew where the battle was and wasn’t.
  4. David’s courage is rooted in remembering God’s faithfulness in past battles.
  5. David knew that this fight wasn’t about him, but about God.

Follow-up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker question:  Who was the tallest person that you have ever met and what did you feel like standing next to them?

  1. Read 1 Samuel 17:45-4. David realized that his battle with Goliath was of a higher reality. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you realized that what was happening was more spiritual than just physical?  Please share.
  2. Read 1 Samuel 17:28-30. David’s older brother was trying to get in a fight with David over his motives for being there and in verse 30 it says that David turned away.  Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were being drawn into a situation that wasn’t worth fighting for, but instead was a distraction to more important matters?  Please share. Have you ever seen this happen in a church?  Please share.
  3. Read 1 Sam. 12: 24. What is Samuel’s advice to the people of Israel? Now read 1 Sam. 17:37. How was Samuel’s teaching applied in David’s life? How can this principle be applied in your life?
  4. Read Ps 27:1. David wrote these words which came from a lifetime of trusting in God. Now read Ps. 27: 14. What is the most difficult situation for you to trust God in– the way that David suggests?
  5. Many people in ancient times rode into battle to make a great name for themselves. Read 1 Sam 17:45-47. Why did David want to see the Philistine struck down? What does this reveal about his heart? How did God honor that in his life? What can God do in your life if you can make the same resolution?

FollowUp 8-15-17

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Message Title: Rahab
Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses:
Hebrews 11:30-31

Sermon Notes:

1. She had a couple of things against her.
i). She was a gentile
ii). She was a pagan
2. She was a sinner saved by grace through faith
3. Her faith began in hearing God’s word
4. She confessed her faith to the spies
5. She demonstrated her faith by good works
6. She had a radical transformation
7. Her faith brought her great blessings

Follow up questions from Sunday:

1. Can you relate a time when something turned out different to what you expected?
2. What aspect or lesson from the sermon on Rahab most encouraged or challenged you?
3. Read Joshua 2: 9-13. What did Rahab know about the history of Israel?
4. What impressed you about Rahab’s faith?
5. What conclusions do you draw from Rahab’s inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus Christ?
6. Do you feel that some of your sins in the past or present are so terrible that they can’t be forgiven?
how does Rahab’s story encourage you?
7. Has your life changed substantially since you trusted Christ or do you have a foot in both worlds?

FollowUp 8-9-17

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Message Title: David
Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses:
Hebrews 11:1-2, 6, 32-34

Sermon Notes:

1. People place a priority on the outward appearance, but God places a priority on the inward appearance.
2. David was a somebody that nobody really noticed except God!

The inner makings of a heavenly hero:

3. He is humble.
4. He is hard-working and faithful.
5. He is ok to work in solitude; He is comfortable with himself before God.
6. He is a courageous person that loves and defends the sheep at the risk of his own life.
7. He is a person of integrity Ps. 78:71-72
8. He is authentically spiritual.

Follow-up questions from Sunday:
1. Read 1 Sam. 16:7. Share typical situations when you find yourself judging people in terms of their outward appearance. Now read 2 Cor. 5:16. How are we to look at people? What would that look like, practically speaking?
2. The world values people who are physically or materially powerful, but these things mean nothing to God. God sometimes chooses people who are materially well-off (Moses and Abraham) and at other times chooses people that the world would typically disregard (Gideon and David). In all cases, though, God uses flawed people to achieve His plan. Read 2 Cor. 4:7-10. Why do you think He does it this way?
3. Read Ps. 27:1. David’s faith in God was one of the key elements of his life. Share something that you have entrusted to God in the past, or need to trust Him with in the present.
4. Read 1 Sam. 13:14. Why did God seek someone to replace Saul as King of Israel? What kind of a person was God looking for? What was Saul’s failure, according to this verse? Now Read Ps 119:33-37. What do you learn about David, in contrast to Saul? If you were going to be a man (or woman) after God’s own heart, what should the first steps be on your journey?

FollowUp 8-3-17

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Message Title: Gideon
Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses: Heb 11:1-2, 6, 32-34

Sermon Notes:

1. God sees us as people of potential, people with a future, and people for who we are in Him!
Judges 6:12
2. Gideon was a heavenly hero who struggled with his identity before God.
3. Gideon was a heavenly hero that struggled between faith and fear. Judges 6:27,36-40, 7:10
4. To be a mighty worrier for God you have to stand for God. Judges 6-7
5. God is patient with our faith journeys. Judges 6:36-40

Follow-up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker: When were you most afraid in following God but did it anyway?

1. Read Judges 6:11-12. Has God ever declared something true in your life that you struggle with like forgiveness, being a child of God, or His love for you? What is it and how have you dealt with it?
2. Read Judges 6:36-40 and Matt 4:6-8. Jesus instructs us not to put God to a test, but Gideon tested God several times to make sure he understood God’s message. How is the test that Jesus describes (to show how important he was to the Father) different from the tests that Gideon put God through?
2.       Read Judges 6:12-13. Have you ever wondered about God’s promises when things go wrong in your life? Read Judges 6:14-16. Does the Lord give an explanation to Gideon as to why things have gone so badly for Israel? What does He do instead? How can we apply this insight when we go through difficult times?
3.       Read Daniel 9:11-14. Daniel prays to ask God to keep his promise to end Israel’s 70 years of captivity. Who brought Israel into captivity? Whose fault was it, according to Daniel? Compare this to what Gideon says in Judges 6:13. Are there times when we blame God for the consequences of our sin? Why do we do that? Now read Daniel 9:17-19. What should our posture be before God in light of our mistakes?
4.       Read Judges 7:2 and 1 Cor. 1:26-31. Why does God work through weakness rather than worldly strength? What does He want everyone to know about Him? What does this tell us about our approach to ministry, if we seek to be people that are used powerfully in His service?
5. Read Heb 11:32-34. Has God turned some of your weaknesses to strengths in your life?
If so, which ones and how?
6. When you read the life of Gideon, how does he encourage you on your faith journey?

FollowUp 7-26-17

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Message Title: Moses
Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses: Heb 11:1-2, 6, 23-29

Sermon Notes:

1. Moses became a great man of faith because his parents were great people of faith. Heb.11:23

Moses had unique choices for his life:
2. Moses could turn his back on his people and enjoy being a prince of Egypt and all the pleasures that would come with that. Heb: 24-25
3. Moses could take another path having faith that God had him in this position for a higher purpose and stand with his people!

4. When Moses chose to follow God, he knew that there was a cost to being a follower, and a cost to not being a follower. Heb 11:24-26

A Moses life lesson:
5. God does His will in His way and in His time!

FollowUp 7-19-17

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Message Title: Abraham
Series: Heavenly Heroes

Key verses: Heb 11:1-2,6,8-12

Sermon Notes:

1. Abraham hears God’s voice and follows Him. Heb 11:8-12
2. Abraham and Sarah hear God’s voice and believe him for the impossible. Heb 11:11-12
3. Abraham hears God’s voice and trusts Him at any cost. Heb 11:17-19
4. Your faith in God is of great value to Him. 1 Peter 1:7

Follow up questions from Sunday:

Icebreaker: Who is your favorite super hero and why?

1. How do you define faith? Do you remember when you first trusted God? How old were you and do you remember what it was for?
2. Read Heb 11:6. Why do you think it is impossible to please God without faith?
3. When you reflect back on your faith journey, how has God rewarded your faith? How do you think He plans on rewarding your faith in the future?
4. Read Heb 11:17, Jn 6:1-6, 1 Peter 1:7, Why do you think God tests our faith?
5. When you reflect back on your faith journey, what was the greatest time of testing that you experienced from God in your life and how did it turn out?
6. What is your advice for a person experiencing God’s testing in their life?