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Dave Harvey: The Quest for Contentment
0 CommentsYesterday, we were blessed to have pastor and author Dave Harvey bring us God’s Word from Philippians 4:11-13. Dave has served as a member of the Sovereign Grace Ministries leadership team since 1995 and is responsible for church care, church planting, and international expansion.
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. In Philippians 4:13, Paul assured the Church that he had “learned to be content.” How does this theme of contentment complement Paul’s burden from the previous chapter, especially seen in 3:14?
2. Dave likened Paul’s experience to two end zones surrounding the field of contentment. Where are you facing the end zones of either “times of prosperity” or “times of difficulty”?
3. What has been the fruit of prosperity in your life? How are you, like Paul, learning to look to God when he blesses you with abundance?
4. What has been the fruit of adversity in your life? How are you, like Paul, learning how to trust God when he brings you low?
5. Who does Paul identify as the source of his strength in life (vs. 13)? How does the work of Christ on the cross correct and re-shape our thinking about what we deserve? What steps can you take this week to cultivate a deeper relationship and joy in Christ?
6. Time take in your care group to pray, giving thanks to God for the riches we have in Christ. Encourage the group to declare to God their desire to learn contentment, in plenty and in want.
May 31 2010 at 6:00 am
Living Hope, Part 8
0 CommentsYesterday, Ben Wikner brought us God’s Word from 1 Peter 2: 18-25. He taught us the uncomfortable truth that because Christ has suffered on our behalf, Christians are called to endure suffering and to entrust ourselves to the one who judges justly. God’s grace enables us to follow Christ’s example.
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. In the face of unjust treatment, where are you tempted to defend your rights? According to 1 Peter 2: 18-20, what response would glorify and honor the Lord?
2. How do you respond when another’s weaknesses, deficiencies or sin affects YOU— do you give them what you think they deserve, or extend grace and mercy? What specific ways can you grow in extending grace and mercy to those who are difficult to love?
3. How can being mindful of the amazing grace that the Lord has shown to you enable you to respond graciously to someone who has mistreated or sinned against you?
4. In what present trials or sufferings do you need to entrust yourself into the hands of a just Judge?
5. In his book The Cost of Discipleship, Deitrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” In your relationships (at home, at work, at church or in the neighborhood) where is the Lord calling you to die to self?
6. Take time as a group to pray, repenting where there is conviction of selfishness and ungodly responses and asking the Lord to enable growth in responding with grace and mercy.
May 24 2010 at 1:27 pm
Living Hope, Part 7
1 CommentsYesterday Braden Greer preached a message called “Alien Citizens” from 1 Peter 2:11-17. He summarized his message at the outset with this statement: “Our willing subjection to earthly authorities reveals Jesus Christ, our ultimate authority.” To do this, he taught, we must “live submitted, live free, and live for others.”
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. Braden shared that our submission and conduct toward civil authorities will either bear witness to the power of the gospel or bring reproach on the gospel. What message is your life communicating?
2. Is it difficult for you to submit to and honor some civil authorities? Which ones? What might this reveal about your trust in God and the possible idols of your heart?
3. Peter teaches that our submission to “every human institution” is “for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13). How can your submission to the governing authorities bring glory to God? How is your submission to civil authorities an act of worship to the Lord?
4. 1 Peter 2:17 commands us to “honor everyone.” Whom do you find it difficult to honor? (Braden shared some examples: the homosexual, the criminal, the abortion doctor, the business achiever, the artsy liberal, etc.).
5. How can your honor and obedience to the governing authorities draw unbelievers to Jesus Christ?
6. Where has the Lord brought conviction concerning disobedience or dishonor to governing authorities? What would repentance look like?
7. As a care group, take time to pray—to repent, as necessary, and to pray for the leaders in our national, state and local governments.
May 17 2010 at 6:00 am
Living Hope, Part 6
0 CommentsIn yesterday’s message entitled “New Identity, New Purpose,” Josh preached from 1 Peter 2:1-12. He taught that a Christian’s identity comes from being connected to or built on the “living stone” of Jesus Christ—his incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension. The believer’s identity no longer comes from his old way of life, culture, socio-economic status, job, education, etc. Jesus himself is the identity of the Christian, his very life and hope.
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. On what have you built your identity? Have you built it on your ethnicity, your education, your socio-economic status, your job, etc.—or on Jesus Christ?
2. What is the impact on your spiritual life when you either forget who you are in Christ or replace your identity with something other than Jesus Christ?
3. How have you tended to view your Christianity in individualistic terms—my devotional life, my faith, or my relationship with the Lord? In what ways is the Lord calling you to identify and engage with His people?
4. Do you have any relationships marked by sin (malice, slander, deceit, envy, etc.)? What must you do to repent and be reconciled?
5. How can you grow in proclaiming the “excellencies of him who called you out of darkness…” (1 Peter 2:9) with unbelievers in your family, neighborhood or workplace?
May 10 2010 at 6:00 am
Living Hope, Part 5
0 CommentsYesterday Robin taught us from 1 Peter 1:22-2:3. He opened with these words of exhortation: “Since we have received the life of God through the word of God, let us demonstrate the love of God.”
Here are options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. From this passage (1 Peter 1:22-2:3), what are the characteristics and benefits of God’s Word? (See also Psalm 1 and Psalm 19:7-11).
2. In 1 Peter 1:23-25, we are reminded that the things of this world perish but God’s Word is eternal. In what ways have you placed your hope in things that are fleeting and perishable (i.e., power, success, status, relationship, money, etc.)? How can you build your life and hope on the indestructible truth of God’s Word?
3. How does trial and adversity wean us from loving this world and spur us to treasure Jesus and long for our heavenly home?
4. Robin shared that theologian Don Carson once quipped, “If you tell me Bible study is a bore, I can only guess that you have done precious little of it.” What crowds out your times of feeding on God’s Word? What can you do less of to provide more time for what is important?
5. What is your attitude toward the Word of God? Do you read it? Do you cherish it? Do you long for it? How can you grow to long for the “pure spiritual milk” (1 Peter 2:2) of God’s Word?
May 3 2010 at 1:22 pm
Living Hope, Part 4
0 CommentsJoshua Harris taught us yesterday from 1 Peter 1:13-21. His message, “The Hope/Holiness Connection,” centered on the idea that we are shaped by the things in which we hope. Hoping in the grace of Christ requires work but is worth the effort because that hope helps change us into holy children of God.
Options for reviewing and applying the message:
• Listen online or download an MP3.
• Download the summary outline (in PDF format).
• Use the questions below for further reflection and application to your life:
1. Josh taught that verse 13 calls us to be clear-headed (“sober-minded”) and ready to exert ourselves mentally (“preparing your minds for action”). Where have you become lazy and apathetic in your spiritual life? What would repentance look like?
2. Is Jesus your only hope or just one among many hopes (i.e., hope in your job, money, possessions, relationships, good works, usefulness, health, etc.)? How can you make Jesus your dearest treasure and only hope?
3. What dying hopes of this world are shaping your behavior? How can hope in Jesus alone (His life, death and resurrection) motivate you to a life of holiness and righteousness?
4. What truths from 1 Peter 1:3-5;18-21 can you meditate on to sustain and enliven the hope you have in Christ?