Alice Drive Baptist Church Podcast

Sermon Notes:

· Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, Rejoice!

· You Press On

· True Joy is found in Christ, knowing Him and His righteousness

· Philippians 3:12-13a 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13a Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own

· “Mature people humbly acknowledge that they haven’t arrived.” - Tony Marida

· Our need for the gospel

· Yours.

· Philippians 3:13b-14 - 13b But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

· “Too many Christians are involved in ‘many things,’ when the secret of progress is to concentrate on 'one thing.’” - Warren Weirsbe

· Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

· “Forgetting what lies behind”

· “It simply means that we break the power of the past by living for the future.” -Warren Weirsbe

· We let the past hold weight

· We live in the glory days

· Philippians 3:14 - 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

· I am determined to pursue Christ’s righteousness!

· How determined are you in this?

· This kind of determination is ongoing!

· Philippians 3:15-16 - 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

· Evaluate your pursuits.

· How are you doing in your pursuit of joy in Christ?

· BE DETERMINED! PRESS FORWARD!

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: What does “ on” look like in your current season of life?

1. Read Philippians 3:12-1

2. How can you practically live out Paul’s mindset in Philippians 3:12–14?

3. Paul admits he hasn’t “arrived” spiritually. How does this challenge your view of maturity in Christ?

4. What does true spiritual maturity look like according to this passage?

5. Why do you think looking back (at failures or successes) can rob you of present joy?

6. What “past” do you need to stop carrying into your present?

7. Paul says his focus is “one thing.” What are some of the “many things” distracting you from pursuing joy in Christ?

8. How might narrowing your focus help restore or strengthen your joy?

9. In what areas do you need to show yourself grace as you press on?

10. Is there an area where you're holding on to guilt or failure?

11. How do you pace yourself in your walk with Christ?

12. Are you running like it's a sprint or a marathon? How can you train better?

13. What would it look like for you to be truly determined in your pursuit of Christ this week?

14. How could this kind of determination change your relationships, habits, or priorities?

“Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4

Sermon Notes

· Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, Rejoice!

· Make a list of people we harmed and become willing to make amends to them all.

· Forgive others; receive forgiveness.

· Matthew 6:12 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

· True forgiveness leads us to forgive.

· Matthew 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

· Matthew 18:35 – So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless everyone one of you forgives his brother or sister from his heart.

· You hurt.

· To feel the pain, name the pain.

· _______ hurt me and I feel _____________.

· We hate.

· Proverbs 6:16-19 - 16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

· Understand your hate.

· Passive revenge: I hope she doesn’t get promoted.

· Active revenge: I hope my ex gets an STD and dies.

· I must see the darkness in me before I can separate the action and the person.

· We heal.

· We seek to understand the people that hurt us.

· We release the hurt to God.

· Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

· We love.

· Matthew 5:44-45a - 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

· I need to forgive ____________ for ______________.

· Forgive others; receive forgiveness.

· 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

· Heavenly Father, I am a sinner. Please forgive all my sins, past, present and future. I turn my life over to you and from now on, I will follow Jesus.

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: Describe the last time you had to forgive someone. What happened?

1. Read Matthew 5:12

2. What is one sin of yours has God forgiven? When you see this sin in others, what is your reaction?

3. Read Matthew 5:14-15

4. How would you explain these verses to someone who is not a follower of Jesus?

5. Read Proverbs 6:16-19

6. What do these verses teach about God’s hate? How do they guide us in our own hate?

7. If you can, please share how you came to understand one person who hurt you that you need to forgive.

8. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who forgave you? How did that go?

9. Is there anyone God has put on your heart that you need to forgive?

Sermon Notes:

· Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, Rejoice!

· Admit we are powerless.

· Realize God is greater than us and he can restore us to sanity.

· We make a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God.

· We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

· We admit to God, ourselves, and another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

· We are ready to have God remove all the defects of our souls.

· We humbly ask God to remove our sins.

· “How do I get him/her/them to change?”

· “How do I get God to change him/her/them?”

· You can’t change another person

· Groveling doesn’t heal the relationship.

· You can only change you.

· You are responsible for your slice of the pie.

· Matthew 7:3 – Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

· Make a list of people we harmed and become willing to make amends to them all.

· Matthew 5:23-24 – Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember your brother something against you, 24 Leave! Your gift before the altar and Go! First to be reconciled with your brother; then come, offer your gift.

· Your relationships with others impacts your relationship with God.

· “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

· Make a list of people we have harmed.

· Become willing to make amends.

· They don’t deserve it.

· I don’t want to.

· God will forgive me without me making amends

· Galatians 6:7: Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

· I can’t think of anyone I harmed.

· Luke 19:8 – Look, Lord! Here and now I give half my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.

· Heavenly Father, forgive me for the harm I have done. I want to make amends. Please guide me.

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: In your opinion, why do people have a hard time admitting they have harmed someone else?

1. Read Matthew 5:23-24

2. Notice the immediacy Jesus demands. What does this tell you about being reconciled with other people?

3. In your opinion, how do broken relationships impact our relationship with God?

4. In your opinion, what kind of character traits are required to leave your offering and go to be reconciled with your brother or sister?

5. Read Luke 19:1-10

6. Is there anyone in your life that reminds you of Zaccheus?

7. What does it say about Zaccheus that he is willing to make amends?

8. Imagine the scene at Zaccheus’ house after Jesus leaves Jericho. How many people take Zaccheus up on his offer? How do they feel about Zaccheus after he reconciles with him? How does Zaccheus collect taxes from this moment forward?

Sermon Notes:

· Where do you find joy when the ups and downs of life are far more than you can handle?

· How is your joy level?

· God is calling us to embrace the life he has for us. To do that we have to embrace the darkest moments and follow him through.

· The Psalms are uniquely suited to foster communion with God. They give voice to our hearts. - Dane Ortland

· We often believe that if we are struggling we can’t walk with God.

· When we isolate we often walk further into darkness and further into shame and guilt.

· David models for us how to turn his fear and shame from the darkness into the Joy of worship.

· “Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.” Heading of Psalm 34

· "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." (v.1) What happened this week that made praise difficult for you?

· Vs. 2 "I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice."

· What are you reflecting to the afflicted around you?

· Vs, 3 "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together."

· Who can you show God’s glory to this week?

· Affliction doesn’t disqualify us from praising—it often makes our praise more real.

· "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." (v.4)

· What is your greatest fear?

· Vs. 5- "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

· One of the greatest gifts God can give to me is to change me to look more like HIM!

· Radiance is God’s perfect antidote for Shame.

· Shame falls away when we behold the glory and grace of God.

· LOOK TO HIM!

· "This poor man called, and the Lord heard him. He saved Him out of all his troubles" (v.6)

· What do you need God to rescue you from today?

· vs. 7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."

· "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." (v.8)

· When we are with God, we experience real joy

· What might be your next step in the darkness? (next 4 lines on one slide)

· Call out to Him in the darkness.

· Bring the real you before God.

· Seek refuge in the Lord

· Find your people

· Are you living your darkest moment right now?

· Have you said, “I can handle this,” instead of surrendering it to God?

· Healing comes when we face darkness and behold the Lord.

· He is offering you His joy in the darkness.

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Share about a time when darkness ruled in your life. What helped you the most during that difficult time?

Read Psalm 34:1-8

1) David is described as a man after God’s own heart. However, leading into Psalm 34 David struggles to the point of insanity. How does David’s story resonate with you?

2) What happened this week that made praise difficult for you?

3) What is the most prominent fear in your life? How has that fear impacted your walk with God and others?

4) How do you typically handle fear and shame?

5) When have you experienced God’s presence in overcoming fear?

6) What do you need God to rescue you from today?

7) Who can you God’s glory to this week?

During this special summer tradition, Pastor Clay Smith answers questions from our congregation.

Sermon Notes:

- Outside of God’s grace in my life, I’m one step from stupid.

- PRIDE = “I deserve better” “They’ll pay for this”

- Where do you see pride in our culture?

- Jacob = Israel/Judah | Esau = Edom

- Edom had money. They had security. They had geographic advantage.

- Obadiah 1:3-4 - 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

- Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

- Self-reliance quickly leads to self-deception

- Has your heart ever deceived you?

- BUT Yahweh will never be defeated.

- Obadiah 1:8 - 8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?

- They placed their hope in the wisdom of man.

- Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

- 1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

- Obadiah 1:10-12 - 10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. 11 On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. 12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.

- Edom’s choice was to fulfill their plan rather than participate in God’s

- Are we ever like the Edomites?

- Obadiah 1:15-16 - 15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. 16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.

- Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- Obadiah 1:21 - Saviors (deliverers) shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

- How often are we the Edomite?

- Are you building your own kingdom like Edom? Or are you surrendering to God's kingdom?

- In His kingdom there is no place for pride.

- Choose humility over pride. Choose trust over control. Choose Christ over self.

- “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

- Faith in the One who humbly rules forever.

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: When was a time you got really upset over something small—and later realized it revealed something much deeper about your heart?

1. Read Obadiah

2. Where do you see pride showing up in your life right now—maybe in your relationships, decisions, or even thoughts?

3. Have you ever trusted yourself or others more than God—and how did that turn out?

4. Why is it so hard to wait on God’s plan instead of doing things our own way?

5. Jesus chose humility instead of pride—even when He had all the power. What does that teach us about how we should respond when we feel wronged?

6. What’s one area in your life where you need to lay down pride and trust Jesus more this week?

Sermon Notes:

· Admit we are powerless.

· Realize God is greater than us and he can restore us to sanity.

· We make a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God

· We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

· We admit to God, ourselves, and another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

· We are ready to have God remove all the defects of our souls.

· We humbly ask God to remove our sins.

· Psalm 51:7 – Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean;

Wash me and I will be white as snow. wcs

· Our sin makes us dirty.

· If God were to clean out your soul, what would he find?

· Will you humbly ask God to clean you up?

· 8 You cause me to hear joy and laughter;

Rejoice, bones you have crushed. wcs

· When you approach your Heavenly Father humbly, that brings him joy

· Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice! – Philippians 4:4

· You might not feel joy if you aren’t really confessing.

· You might not feel joy if you aren’t dealing with the root.

· You might not feel joy if you believe Satan more than God.

· You might not feel joy if you play games with God.

· 9 Hide your face from my sins,

And all my dirt wipe out. wcs

· 10 Create in me a clean heart, God,

And renew a firm spirit inside of me. wcs

· 11 Do not throw me away from your face,

Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. wcs

· The closer I am to God, the better I am.

· 12 Return me to the joy of your salvation,

And sustain me with a willing spirit. wcs

· Lord, I am ready to do your will today.

· What is your joy level?

· Have you claimed forgiveness?

· Have you decided to follow Jesus?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: In your opinion, why do people have a hard time feeling forgiven?

1. Read Psalm 51:7

2. What part of your soul do you pray for God to clean up?

3. Read Psalm 51:8

4. Imagine your Heavenly Father reacting with joy when you ask him to remove your soul defects. What does he say? Can you imagine him laughing as he removes them?

5. Read Psalm 51:9

6. How does your sin interfere with your relationship with your Heavenly Father?

7. Read Psalm 51:10

8. To ask God to create a clean heart means we ask God to clean up our bad decisions. Share one bad decision you need God’s help to clean up.

9. Read Psalm 51:11-12

10. To be in God’s presence is to have joy restored. Please share a time when God restored your joy after he forgave you.

Sermon Notes:

· Admit we are powerless.

· Realize God is greater than us and he can restore us to sanity.

· We make a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God.

· We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

· We admit to God, ourselves, and another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

· We are ready to have God remove all the defects of our souls.

· As long as you are fighting the defects, joy is elusive.

· We are afraid of a new way of living.

· Our destructive behaviors reward us.

· Our previous efforts to change left us defeated.

· Romans 7:19 – For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing!

· Hebbs Rule – Neurons that fire together, wire together.

· 2 Corinthians 5:16 – Therefore, we now know no one according to the flesh. Even if according to the flesh we knew Christ, now we no longer know him that way. wcs

· Who is that person to Jesus?

· Who am I to Jesus?

· Are you ready for Jesus to do some soul building in your life?

· We embrace a new possibility for our lives.

· 17 Therefore, if a person is in Christ – a new creation! The old has passed away; look, the new has come! wcs

· We embrace our new identity.

· 18-19a All of this is through God, the reconciler of himself to us through Christ, and the one who gives us the service of reconciliation. For God in Christ reconciled the cosmos to himself, so our stumbles would not be charged to our account… wcs

· We enjoy a new relationship with our Heavenly Father.

· 19b…but instead he placed in us the word of reconciliation. wcs

· We embark on a new mission.

· Are you ready?

· John 5:6 – Do you want to get well?

· John 5:8 – Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.

· John 5:9 – At once, the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

· Are you ready and willing for God to remove all the defects of your soul?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: Do you find it hard to break old habits? What makes breaking a sinful or harmful pattern hard for you to break?

1. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16

2. What advice would give to someone about seeing people as Jesus sees them?

3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17

4. In what ways have you seen Jesus make someone into a new creation?

5. Being a new creation means the old has passed away. Have you had a funeral for the old broken, sinful, painful defects of your soul? What might that funeral look like.

6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19a.

7. What does the word reconciliation mean to you?

8. What does God’s reconciliation efforts through Jesus tell you about God’s character?

9. Read 2 Corinthians 5:19b.

10. What would a ministry of reconciliation look like to you?

Sermon Notes:

· What’s hiding in the dark places of your soul?

· Admit we are powerless.

· God is greater than us and he can restore us to sanity.

· We make a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God.

· We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

· The fifth step: We admit to God, ourselves, and another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

· 1 John 1:9 – If we admit our sins, he is faithful and right to dismiss our sins and cleanse us from all things not right. (wcs)

· Confessing to God washes your soul in grace.

· Pray through your moral inventory.

· Deal in specifics.

· Review each day.

· Claim the promise of sin removal.

· James 5:16 – Admit to each other your sins and pray over each other for healing. The great, strong prayer of a right doer produces! (wcs)

· Be aware of your own sin.

· Do not be disturbed by what you hear.

· Keep what you hear confidential.

· Respond in love.

· Trust the Spirit for what to say.

· Pronounce forgiveness.

· Pray for healing.

· As a church we need to admit we are all sinners.

· Heavenly Father, we confess we fall short of what is right and good. We hurt ourselves and others with our sin. None of us are good, no, not one. Please have mercy on us. Heal the wounds of our sin. Take away our temptations. Thank you for cleansing us.

· Today, what do you need to confess to your Heavenly Father?

· Today, what do you need to do to make this church a true place of grace?

· Today, who needs to hear your confession?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions:

Opener: How do you feel when you admit you are wrong? Is it a positive or negative experience?

1. Read 1 John 1:9

2. Imagine reviewing your day yesterday. Does a particular sin stand out? What is God saying to you about that sin?

3. God is described as faithful and right. How does it feel to know God will forgive your sins?

4. Imagine how you might feel if you sensed God cleaning you up.

5. Read James 5:19

6. Is our group a safe place to admit our struggles?

7. Keeping secrets is a breeding ground for sin. Do you know someone who tried to keep a sinful pattern secret? How did things turn out for them?

8. We are instructed to pray for one another. How would you pray for someone who confessed their sins to you?

9. What do you need to do to be ready to hear someone’s confession?

Pastor Matt Sprinkle

James 2:14-26

Sermon Notes:

- It costs something.

- We enter the year with a false belief.

- Sports teams lose. Stocks crash. Leaders disappoint.

- A Faith that doesn’t disappoint

- 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

- “Can you be a follower of Jesus and be the same as the people who don't follow Jesus?”

- Direction, not intention, determines destination -Andy Stanley

- If your faith doesn’t move you — it’s not alive.

- Picture of George Müller (See Email)

- 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

- And they are terrified.

- Abraham’s actions proved he really believed

- Rahab’s actions proved she truly believed.

- God Never Fails

- Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

- Is it Real?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Opener: When you face a defect in your character, how do you feel?

1. Read James 2:14-26

2. Have I ever felt truly broken over my sin and wanted to run from it?

3. Do I really understand the gospel — that Jesus died and rose for my sins — and that I can’t save myself?

4. Did I genuinely turn from my sin, or do I still secretly love and cling to it?

5. Has my life actually changed since I believed? Do I live like someone who follows Jesus? Can others see it?

6. Do I want to tell others about Jesus, or am I ashamed to bring Him up?

7. Do I enjoy being around other believers and worshiping with God’s people?