Bethlehem Community Church

Series: Christmas 2018            Sunday, December 16, 2018 -- Sermon Questions 

“WILL YOU MISS CHRISTMAS?”

1. Read Matthew 2:1-8. Why do you think Herod was disturbed?  

How might we be like Herod when it comes to Jesus – the King of kings 

and Lord of lords (look at Psalm 2:1-12)?

1. Read Romans 10:9. What does this mean?

1. Read Matthew 2:3-6. What stands out to you about the religious leaders (Remember, the OT is full of prophesies concerning a coming Messiah.  See Isaiah 9:6-7)? Why do you think they were indifferent (see Deut. 6:5)?

1. What does Jesus think about apathy and indifference (see Rev. 3:14-22)?

1. Why do you think the people of Bethlehem and Jerusalem missed the first Christmas? Do you think you suffer from “hurry sickness”?

1.  Read Luke 2:8-15. Why do you think the shepherds received a personal invitation from God to be at the first Christmas?

If you have ever taken a class led by Chris Luciano you will want to be a part of this one. Chris draws upon many sources of great theologians but as always is seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in all the scriptures he teaches. Chris will be looking closely at the Gospel according to Matthew, but you cannot look at just one Gospel. He will be drawing on all of the Gospels and of course looking back at the Old Testament as well. Join each week in class at 8:45, all are welcome, every week or when you can but you will not want to miss a single class and now you don't have to. Each week we will be putting the podcast up for everyone to follow.

Series: 1John                  Sunday, December 2, 2018 -- Sermon Questions 

“THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY”

1. Read 1John 4:8.  What does this mean to you?
2. What is (agape) love?  (Go over 1Corinthians 13:4-7.)
3. Why was the early church so successful in impacting the Roman culture?
4. Read 1John 4:7-8.  What are the implications of these verses?
5. What is a great example of agape love?  (See 1John 4:9-10.)
6.  Read 1John 4:11-12 and 1John 2:9-11.  Why do these verses rule out lone ranger Christianity?  Can a person be a born-again Christian and not belong to a fellowship?  What do these verses have to say about unity in the Christian body?  Why does unity matter?  (See John 17:20-21.)
7. What do you think about the pastor who preached on “love one another” for six months. What might happen at BCC?
8. Read and discuss 1John 4:18.

November 25, 2018
Pastor Jeff Ekstein
"From Prison to Pulpit"
Acts 16:16-34

If you have ever taken a class led by Chris Luciano you will want to be a part of this one. Chris draws upon many sources of great theologians but as always is seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in all the scriptures he teaches. Chris will be looking closely at the Gospel according to Matthew, but you cannot look at just one Gospel. He will be drawing on all of the Gospels and of course looking back at the Old Testament as well. Join each week in class at 8:45, all are welcome, every week or when you can but you will not want to miss a single class and now you don't have to. Each week we will be putting the podcast up for everyone to follow.

THANKSGIVING 2018             Sunday, November 18, 2018 -- Sermon Questions 

“WILL YOU PASS THE TEST?”

1. Why did John Blanchard “pass the test”?
2. What is “the test”?
3. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Why does Frank call this “the practical test” of Christianity? 
4. What are some good reasons we should thank God? 
5. Talk about the story of the Pilgrims.  If you had been in their shoes, do you think you would have had a thankful heart? Why or why not? 
6.  Why is complaining and being negative so detrimental to us? 
7. Read Colossians 1:11. What is Joy, according to Frank?  What two things are necessary for joy?  What is joy’s connection to being thankful?

If you have ever taken a class led by Chris Luciano you will want to be a part of this one. Chris draws upon many sources of great theologians but as always is seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in all the scriptures he teaches. Chris will be looking closely at the Gospel according to Matthew, but you cannot look at just one Gospel. He will be drawing on all of the Gospels and of course looking back at the Old Testament as well. Join each week in class at 8:45, all are welcome, every week or when you can but you will not want to miss a single class and now you don't have to. Each week we will be putting the podcast up for everyone to follow.

Series: 1 John                 Sunday, November 11, 2018 -- Sermon Questions 

“THE  REAL  DEAL”

1. On a scale of one to ten (with one being low and ten being high), how “real” is your Christianity? 
2. When it comes to translating the Greek into English, what is one of the difficulties?
3. Read 1 John 2:7-8. What does John mean by we are “to love one another”?  
4. Biblically, what is agape love (see 1 Cor. 13:4-7)? 
5. How is the command to love one another old (see Deut. 5:6—talk about what it means to love God -- and Leviticus 19:18)? 
6.  How is the command to love one another new (see Luke 10:25—37 and discuss its true meaning)? 
7. Discuss the Corrie ten Boom illustration.  Could she not have forgiven the Nazi guard and still really been a good Christian?  Why or why not?

If you have ever taken a class led by Chris Luciano you will want to be a part of this one. Chris draws upon many sources of great theologians but as always is seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in all the scriptures he teaches. Chris will be looking closely at the Gospel according to Matthew, but you cannot look at just one Gospel. He will be drawing on all of the Gospels and of course looking back at the Old Testament as well. Join each week in class at 8:45, all are welcome, every week or when you can but you will not want to miss a single class and now you don't have to. Each week we will be putting the podcast up for everyone to follow.