ARCC Sermons

Study Questions:

1. In what way(s) did the Church begin in the Matthew 16 text? In what way(s) did it begin in Acts 2?

2. What is the most important requirement for being part of the Church? What are some of the other instructions on what it looks like to be part of the Church?

3. Why is Church Membership a practice that is carried out in so many churches? What is its Biblical basis?

4. In what ways did the Apostle Paul give of himself for the good of others and for the body of Christ as a whole?

Additional Scripture References:

Ephesians 4:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:23-33; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Hebrews 10:19-25

Study Questions:

1. What things stuck out to you from this text? Is there anything in this text that challenges you?

2. How does this text push us towards the gospel?

3. What parallels do you see between the nation of Israel in this text and the American nation?

4. What practical application should we as individuals take from this text? …as the church collective?

Additional Scripture References:

Philippians 3:8

Study Questions:

1. Would Jesus consider you a disciple of His?

2. What stands out to you the most from this text?

3. Why were those four qualities given in verse 3 as the standard for those who would serve? How would you describe someone who is a true servant?

4. Why is the “ministry of the word” so important for the Church?

Additional Scripture References:

Luke 22:26; John 12:26

Study Questions:

1. What is your initial reaction when you read stories in scripture like the story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel and the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5? How does it stretch you in regards to what you believe about God and about you?

2. Do your experiences in life bring about a positive or negative view of “the fear of the Lord”?

3. How does the gospel help to create a positive or healthy view of this fear?

4. How does community foster a healthy fear of the Lord?

Additional Scripture References:

2 Samuel 6:5-15; Hebrews 1:12; 13:8; 12:29; 10:31; Romans 9:15; Deuteronomy 4:10; 5:29; 6:2; 6:24; 10:12; Jeremiah 32:40; James 4:17; John 10:10

Study Questions:

1. How is the Covenant that God made with Adam different from the rest of the Covenants?

2. What are some of the other foreshadowings in the Covenants that point toward the New Covenant?

3. Define the New Covenant in Jesus.

Additional Scripture References:

Romans 5:16; Genesis 15:13-14; Romans 7:10

Study Questions:

1. What is your view of community now and how is it expanded or further developed from this text?

2. What is your view of giving now and how is it expanded or further developed from this text?

3. How is community connected to worship? How is giving connected to worship?

Additional Scripture References:

John 13:35

Study Questions:

1. What is your normal response when things go wrong in your life? Why?

2. What is a gospel-centered, Spirit-filled response to difficult and stressful situations?

3. What tends to keep you from praying? How do you judge the success of prayer?

4. How does the theology of the cross instruct or impact our prayer life?

Additional Scripture References: 1 Peter 1:7; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:4-6; Psalm 2:4; Isaiah 46:8-11; John 12:32; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 1:3; Titus 3:3-4

Study Questions:

1. What about your life over the last month gives you confidence that you actually “believe” in Jesus, hope in Jesus, trust in Jesus, worship Jesus,…etc.?

2. Consider the truths of the Gospel of Jesus. (Ephesians 1 is a great place to do this.) What is it that your heart has the hardest time believing? How does this manifest itself?

3. For what specific reasons in your life right now do you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit? What truths in the gospel, about God, about your relationship with God in Christ do you need to focus on?

4. How can our Missional Communities see to it that our doctrine is accompanied by fruit? What does this look like for our local body here in Alamo Ranch…San Antonio?

Additional Scripture References: John 3:16; Romans 10:9-11; Luke 12:11-12; Luke 22:54-62; John 13:19; 14:28-29; 16:4; Romans 15:8-9, 13; Ephesians 1:17-19; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Ephesians 3:14-21

Study Questions:

1. What are we supposed to take away from this particular story of healing? What does it tell us about Peter, the lame man, and God?

2. What are the common themes between Peter's sermon at Pentecost and his sermon in Solomon's Portico?

3. As believers, how does living by faith, wisdom, self control, and good stewardship come together?

4. What is the wickedness that Peter is referring to in verse 26? How can he use such a strong word?

Additional Scripture References:

2 Timothy 4:2-4; John 5:42-43; John 14:6; Colossians 1:16; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Proverbs 16:9

Study Questions:

1. To what (or whom) are you devoted? What proof is there?

2. What do you think of when you think about fellowship? What would change in our life if our "fellowship" paradigm was more in sync with the early church?

3. Why does Luke speak so much about the breaking of bread? Why is it significant that the people were receiving food with glad and generous hearts? Why is it so hard to embrace the day to day?

Additional Scripture References:

Mark 16:20