Primary Scripture: Psalm 98

BIG IDEA: Jesus is the Lord worthy of worship and praise.

Message Focus: God reigns. The nation of Israel understood that. Creation understands that. One day, all the peoples of the world will see it as well. Psalm 98 celebrates God’s salvation, righteousness, and judgment. This message may expose why Jesus is worthy of worship as well as teaching people ways to worship God in His greatness.

Prompting Questions: What is worship? Why is God the only One who truly deserves the praise and

celebration of all creation? As a born again believer, how do I enter into worship?

Cross References: Psalm 19:1-2; Luke 2:1-20; John 12:12-19; Revelation 4:1-11

Primary Scripture: Psalm 45

BIG IDEA: Jesus entered this world to rescue His true love.

Message Focus: Psalm 45 is a “love song” celebrating the wedding of a king. It declares the excellence and strength of the king while expressing the beauty and honor of the bride. Hebrews attributes verse 6-7 to Jesus. The one familiar with the NT will quickly make the connection to the Church and Jesus, the Bride and the Bridegroom.

Prompting Questions: Why does God love us so much? What ways has God shown His overwhelming love for humanity, in the OT or the NT? How does knowing that one day Christians will be with Jesus forever affect the way we live today?

Cross References: Matthew 1:21; Ephesians 5:21-33; Revelation 19:7

Primary Scripture: Psalm 22

BIG IDEA: Looking ahead with hope, Jesus suffered in our place for our sin.

Message Focus: David lamented the abuse he received from his enemies. Jesus quoted the opening words of Psalm 22 while He was hanging on the cross. Psalm 22 includes details that are also recorded in the Gospels: hurling insults, people saying, “let the Lord rescue him”, casting lots for garments, and more. This is an opportunity to put forward one of the primary reasons for Jesus’ birth, life, and ministry on earth: His death and resurrection.

Prompting Questions: Why did Jesus have to die for us? How might God use my life to help other people

come to faith in Jesus as well?

Cross References: Isaiah 53:7-8; Luke 2:22-35; John 19:16-37; Acts 3:17-20; Hebrews 12:1-3

Primary Scripture: Psalm 110

BIG IDEA: Jesus is the King and Priest God promised to send.

Message Focus: David prophesied about a coming King-Priest who would rule and judge in the power of God. Jesus used this psalm in Matthew 22 as did Peter in Acts 2 and the author of Hebrews. Jesus came into His creation to lead us out of sin/darkness and into friendship with God because of the forgiveness He provides.

Prompting Questions: Who was Melchizedek and why is Jesus a priest in his order? What were first century Jews looking for in the coming Messiah? Why does it matter that Jesus is both King and Priest?

Cross References: Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:26-33; Acts 2:30-32; Hebrews 3:1, 7:11-22; Revelation 19:16

Primary Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

BIG IDEA: Christians are official messengers of God’s good news.

Message Focus: God offers to restore our relationship to Him through Christ. This is the greatest news any human being could receive. God’s primary vehicle for delivering and sharing this news? Every genuinely born again believer. He has given us this “ministry of reconciliation.”

Prompting Questions: What is “reconciliation” biblically? Evangelism sends shivers down some Christians backs; how can we/the gospel help them? Why did God choose the Church as the way for the gospel to spread across the world?

Cross References: 2 Corinthians 6:1; Romans 5:10-11; Ephesians 6:19-20; Mark 3:13-15; Isaiah 61:1-3

Primary Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

BIG IDEA: In Christ, believers are adopted into God’s family, co-heirs with Christ.

Focus: The word “adoption” reminds us that our God is a relational God actively working to bring His family back together. The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. He does not merely save us from our sin and send us on our way, He welcomes us into His family, nurtures and teaches us to reflect His image into the world inviting lost people to return home also. He also lavishes us with spiritual blessings both now and promised for the future! In Christ, we are sons and daughters of God and we enjoy all the benefits of being His child.

Prompting Questions: What did adoption mean to Paul and his readers? How does a believer know that they have been adopted by God? Why did Paul make a point of talking about “inheritance”?

Cross References: John 1:12, 14:18, Galatians 4:4-7, Ephesians 1:5, Hebrews 2:10-15, 1 John 3:1-2

Primary Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

BIG IDEA: In Christ, believers are reborn, made new, and empowered to live like Jesus.

Message Focus: The consequences of sin left us with an existence separated from God and marked by self-centeredness, emptiness, guilt and shame. Salvation through faith in Jesus offers us reconciliation with God and a regenerated life of purpose, forgiveness and freedom. We may struggle with the influence and temptation of sin in our lives here on earth, the new life given by God’s Spirit at salvation means we are not bound to sin anymore! New life brings hope and growth in abundance.

Prompting Questions: What does “new creation” mean? How might you counsel a friend who confesses to you that they still struggle with a besetting sin even since coming to faith in Jesus? What are key characteristics between “the old” that has gone and “the new” that is here? Why is regeneration a helpful word/idea?

Cross References: John 3:3-8, Romans 8:8-13, Galatians 5:16-24, Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:3, Titus 3:5

Primary Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

BIG IDEA: In Christ, believers have a healthy relationship with God.

Focus: God’s perfection is the standard for righteousness and only He is truly righteous. Righteousness is one of God’s divine attributes, closely associated to His justice. Jesus is the only sinless one, the only righteous one and it is His righteousness that covers us at salvation. This is the Great Exchange: He took our sin, paid the price of death on the cross and gave us His perfect righteousness so we can have access to God.

Prompting Questions: How is the word righteous/ness understood through the Bible? Contrast an unhealthy relationship with God versus a healthy relationship with God. Looking at the Bible, how does a person receive righteousness?

Primary Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

BIG IDEA: Jesus welcomes children into the kingdom.

Focus: The disciples tried to keep parents from bothering Jesus with their children, but Jesus corrected them. Children are welcome in the kingdom of God. In fact, there is much we can learn about genuine faith from kids. This tugs on a thread: how we shepherd and care for kids in our church and community matters.

Prompting Questions: Why did the disciples rebuke the parents bringing children to Jesus? What do we have to learn from children about genuine faith and the kingdom of God? As a church, how will we support children’s ministry in a way that welcomes all families to discover the gospel and grow in it?

Primary Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

BIG IDEA: Jesus empowers us to be neighbors toward everyone, especially our enemies.

Focus: There seems to be two layers to this parable. The first is obvious: followers of Jesus should serve and help others who are in need. The second is seen in the light of the gospel: Jesus is the Samaritan, the outcast, who helps those who are “half dead”, us. It was the Jewish religious leaders who refused to help. Jesus is the ultimate neighbor.

Prompting Questions: What prompted this interaction and parable? How did Jews define “neighbor” and did Jesus challenge that idea? What are barriers to people showing hospitality and serving others?

Cross References: Luke 1:76-79; Galatians 5:14; Leviticus 19:18