Covenant Naples

When facing impossible situations, our greatest need is not clarity, but trust in the unfailing love of God.

Sermon Outline:

I. Following God will bring us to impossible situations.

II. God intends impossible situations for our good.

III. God rewards trust in impossible situations.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Share a time when you had to step forward in faith without knowing all the details. What was challenging about that experience, and how did God provide?

2. Impossible situations (or seemingly impossible ones) are opportunities for faith growth. What seemingly “impossible” situation are you currently facing where you need to trust God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself?

3. Giving is one way of exercising faith. What keeps you from being more generous than you are presently? How have you experienced God’s provision when you have been generous in the past?

4. Joshua and the priests risked looking foolish by stepping into the flooded Jordan River. Has the fear of looking foolish ever kept you back from obedience? How does the gospel enable us to overcome this fear?

5. How does the metaphor of faith as a muscle that grows through stretching and testing resonate with your own spiritual experience? What “muscle-building” moments have been most transformative in your faith journey?

The people we are most inclined to write off, God is most delighted to write in. How should that change our view of such people? In this unlikely story, we’re going to consider an unlikely hero, an unlikely theologian, and an unlikely salvation.

Sermon Outline:

I. An Unlikely Hero

II. An Unlikely Theologian

III. An Unlikely Salvation

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. The sermon describes Rahab as “exactly the kind of person who deserves the judgment God will bring” yet also “exactly the kind of person upon whom God loves to shower his grace.” How does this challenge your own views about who can be used by God? Share about a time when you witnessed God work through an unexpected person.

2. We learn that Rahab believed after hearing about God’s mighty works, even though the person who told her may not have been a believer themselves. How does this encourage or challenge you in sharing your faith with others? What holds you back from telling others about what God has done?

3. Rahab’s faith was demonstrated through her actions—hiding the spies and helping them escape. In what specific ways does your faith influence your daily decisions and actions? Are there areas where your beliefs and actions don’t align?

4. Rahab sought rescue not just for herself but for her entire household. How does this relate to your own spiritual influence within your family? What practical steps can you take to encourage faith in your household?

5. The good news of the gospel is about what God has done, not what we do. How does this perspective change the way you think about your relationship with God? How does it prepare us for action?

In this passage, we see how the people of Israel were prepared by Joshua to enter into the rest promised to them and also learn from it how we may enter into the rest promised to all who believe.

Sermon Outline:

I. Entering God’s Rest Calls for Active Response.

II. Entering God’s Rest Calls for Community Support.

III. Entering God’s Rest Calls for Wholehearted Surrender.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Merle Haggard described his lifelong sense of restlessness. How do you relate to this feeling in your own life? Where have you looked for rest apart from Jesus?

2. The passage emphasizes that entering God’s rest requires an active response. For ancient Israel it meant going up to fight and take the land. What does it mean for Christians?

3. The two and a half tribes had to help their brothers enter the Promised Land before they were to fully enjoy their own rest. How might this principle apply to our church community today? What specific ways can we help others find rest in Christ?

4. The sermon mentioned leaving our own comfort to serve others, like attending an early service or starting a new small group. What are some ways you’ve seen people in our church community sacrifice their comfort to help others? What opportunities do you see for doing this yourself?

5. The Israelites pledged complete obedience to Joshua, saying “Whatever you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.” What makes it difficult for us to surrender this completely to Jesus? How can understanding Jesus’ character help us trust him more fully?

The call to be strong and courageous recurs frequently in the Old Testament. The reason is because obeying God is frequently difficult and scary! That’s not just true in Joshua’s day, but ours as well. So, where do the strength and courage to obey God come from?

Sermon Outline:

I. Be strong and courageous because you have a God-given mission to accomplish

II. Be strong and courageous because you have a life-giving path to walk

III. Be strong and courageous because you have a promise-keeping God to trust

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Why does following God's commands often require courage? Share a time when obeying God in your own life required you to be strong and courageous.

2. The sermon describes both Joshua and modern Christians as having God-given missions. What specific mission did God give Joshua, and how does that compare to the mission Jesus has given Christians today through the Great Commission?

3. God promised Joshua prosperity not by seeking it directly, but as a gift from walking in God’s ways. What would this prosperity and success have looked like for Joshua, and what might it look like for those who live according to God’s word today?

4. Think about God’s promise to Joshua (“I will be with you”) with Jesus’s promise to his disciples in Matthew 28:20. What practical difference should God's presence make in our daily lives?

5. God’s command to Joshua emphasizes the importance of meditating on the law (“torah” meaning “instruction”) day and night. What specific practices could you implement to similarly dwell richly in the Word this year?

It's that time of year again! What are your resolutions for 2025?

This Sunday, we will explore how the apostle Paul might answer this question. He would tell us to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Col. 3:2). But what does that mean? And how do we live out this biblical principle in our daily lives? Come Sunday to find out!

Questions:

1. What are some New Year's resolutions that you've done in the past? Why did you pick those?

2. Why do you think it's so hard to set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth?

3. Why do you think we spend so little time thinking about how great heaven will be?

4. If we meditated more on heaven, do you think it would be easier to love others more? Why or why not?

5. This week, what are some practical ways that you can live "heaven on earth" by loving others in your life?

Chapter 9 of Isaiah was written to give hope to the oppressed people of Israel. It can also be a tremendous encouragement to the believer who has fixed their hope securely on Jesus. Indeed, the rulership of Christ, in the present and future kingdom of God, is the surest foundation of hope for the Christian.

Questions:

1, Isaiah tells us that “the people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” What are other places in Scripture where we see light and darkness contrasted?

2. It seems clear that Satan is the ruler of aspects of our world, but yet God is in control. What evidence do we have that this is true?

3. Why is it important that Jesus rule on the throne of David?

4. How would a government established by Christ look different than the governments of this world?

5. Can you explain how the names Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace can only be fulfilled by the God-man Jesus Christ?

In 735 BC, God’s people struggled to believe he was with them in times of trouble. We have the same struggle. It’s not that we struggle to believe that God exists; rather, we struggle to believe that he matters. As we face tremendous challenges and troubles in this world, what does it look like to push back on our unbelief and set our hope in the Lord?

Sermon Outline:

I. God is with us, therefore our enemies will not prevail over us.

II. God is with us, therefore we should fear only him.

III. God is with us, therefore we should rely on his word.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think it’s easier for us to place our hope in things like politics, military power, or our own wisdom instead of in God? How does this passage challenge your own sources of hope during times of trouble?

2. How does the idea of God being with us (especially in the person of Jesus) provide hope in your own life? In what ways do we sometimes fail to fully trust that God is with us, even when circumstances seem overwhelming?

3. How do we combat the temptation to fear the things that culture fears—whether it’s political instability, economic challenges, or health concerns? What does it look like for us to “fear God” in practical terms?

4. How can we make God’s word the primary source of our understanding and peace in a chaotic world?

5. Isaiah 9:1-2 foretells a great light that will shine on those in darkness, fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. How does the light of Christ bring hope in the midst of darkness, both in our personal struggles and in the broader issues facing the world? How can we actively share the light of Christ with those around us who are experiencing hopelessness or despair?

Fear has the ability to drive us into foolish, short-sighted decisions that have long-lasting consequences. Worse, fear in times of trouble can lead us into decisions that dishonor God. During this season of Advent, we will be considering how these passages in Isaiah 7-12 foretell the hope that brings comfort and courage in a world sorely needing it for a people who don’t deserve it. 

Sermon Outline:

I. In times of trouble, fear is normal.

II. In times of trouble, faith is firmness.

III. In times of trouble, hope is fitting.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What are some common fears that can lead Christians today to make decisions that move us away from trusting in God? How can we recognize when fear is influencing our choices?

2. What does it mean to “stand firm in faith” during times of trouble? How can we practically strengthen our faith when faced with fear or uncertainty?

3. Why do you think Ahaz refused God’s offer for a sign? How does God’s willingness to provide signs for his people (like the birth of Immanuel and the Lord’s Supper) demonstrate his grace and desire for us to trust him?

4. How does the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 in the birth of Jesus change the way we view our relationship with God, especially in times of trouble? What practical difference does it make in our lives if “God is with us”?

5. How can the Advent season help us to cultivate a living hope in Jesus’ return, especially when facing trials?