Covenant Naples

The Acts 8 episode of Philip and the Ethiopian official is the story of a divine appointment. It was not by chance that they met on the Gaza road – God arranged the encounter. While this is an extraordinary event, it is not unprecedented. God is even today in the business of arranging divine appointments – for those who are qualified, prepared, and willing to answer them.

I. Philip was both qualified, prepared, and willing to lead a man to conversion.

II. The normative mode of Gospel transmission is by speaking and hearing… and one-on-one is the ideal.

III. Those Christians who are qualified, prepared, and willing can expect divine appointments like the one Philip received.

Discussion points:

1. The Ethiopian man was, for more than one reason, excluded from ‘the assembly of the Lord.’ What is the reason for this exclusion?

2. Why do you suppose God chose Philip for this assignment?

3. Why do you think God chose the Ethiopian to receive this extraordinary messenger and message?

4.Working from the same passage (Is. 53) that the Ethiopian official read, make the connection between the prophet’s words and Christ the Messiah.

5. Reflect on your own conversion. How were you guided into an understanding of the Scripture and the Gospel message?

6. Have you ever been on either the going or receiving end of a divine appointment? How do you know that is what it was?

As we journey through life, we experience times of flourishing and struggle.

We notice times when we're growing in our faith and other times where we seem to be going backwards,

times when God feels closer than our breath an other times where he seems altogether absent.

We may wonder how this is going to end.

This passage reminds us that God's plan for the universe is not in doubt,

and neither is his plan for your life.

Sermon Outline:

I. You Are Sealed With The Spirit for an Inheritance.

II. You are Sealed with the Spirit According to God's Plan.

III. You are Sealed with the Spirit for God's Glory.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. How does knowing that you have an eternal inheritance waiting for you

change your perspective on the struggles that you face in this life?

2. We heard that "becoming a Christian is not about something you do.

Becoming a Christian is out believing a message about what God has already done for you."

How might this truth help someone who is struggling to earn their salvation through good works?

3. Do you find comfort or concern in the idea of God's sovereignty --

that he works all things according to the counsel of his will? Why?

4. How does the sealing of the Holy Spirit serve as a guarantee of our future inheritance?

Have you experienced the Spirit's presence in your life in a way that gives you confidence in God's promises?

5. What specific ways can you live out God's purpose for your life, which is to glorify Him, this week? How can we encourage each other in this purpose?

Divisions and tensions in society and even within the church threaten to tear Christians apart and distract us from our core identity in Christ. In this message, we are invited to stand firm in our identity as loved, chosen, and adopted children of God so we would give praise to God and walk with grace and humility.

Sermon Outline:

I. Stand Firm Because the Father Has Blessed You.

II. Stand Firm Because the Father has Chosen You.

III. Stand Firm Because the Father Has Predestined You.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways have you found other identities competing with or even superseding your Christian identity? How can we keep our identity in Christ foremost?

2. What stood out to you most about the blessings we have in Christ (v. 3)? Which of these blessings do you most need to be reminded of?

3. How does understanding election and predestination as acts of God's love and grace (rather than cold, fatalistic forces) change your perspective on these doctrines?

4. Why do you think God chose to adopt us as his children (v. 5)? What are the implications of being adopted into God's family?

5. How can remembering we are chosen and predestined by God's love (not anything in us) help us relate to one another in the church with more grace, humility and unity? How should it affect the way we view and treat unbelievers?

Divisions and tensions in society and even within the church threaten to tear Christians apart and distract us from our core identity in Christ. In this message, we are invited to stand firm in our identity as loved, chosen, and adopted children of God so we would give praise to God and walk with grace and humility.

Sermon Outline:

I. Stand Firm Because the Father Has Blessed You.

II. Stand Firm Because the Father has Chosen You.

III. Stand Firm Because the Father Has Predestined You.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways have you found other identities competing with or even superseding your Christian identity? How can we keep our identity in Christ foremost?

2. What stood out to you most about the blessings we have in Christ (v. 3)? Which of these blessings do you most need to be reminded of?

3. How does understanding election and predestination as acts of God's love and grace (rather than cold, fatalistic forces) change your perspective on these doctrines?

4. Why do you think God chose to adopt us as his children (v. 5)? What are the implications of being adopted into God's family?

5. How can remembering we are chosen and predestined by God's love (not anything in us) help us relate to one another in the church with more grace, humility and unity? How should it affect the way we view and treat unbelievers?

Sermon Questions

1. What was wrong with the woman in Luke 13:10-17 and how did Jesus respond to her?

2. What do you find encouraging about this story and why?

3. Augustine described humanity as being curved inward on itself. What do you think he meant and how have you seen it to be true in your own life?

4. In what areas of your life have you experienced freedom? How did that happen?

5. How have you been discouraged in your own sanctification?

6. What areas of your life do you still want Jesus to heal? How can you bring those areas into His presence for healing?

7. How does a vision of what you will one day become impact your current struggle?

All of us are waiting in hope. We all have experienced painful and difficult circumstances that cause us to question God’s care, involvement, and love for us. What does it mean to wait in hope? How does God comfort us when we can’t see him working in our life. Come join us as we answer these questions and more found in the book of Ruth.

Sermon Discussion questions:

1. When are you most tempted to believe that God’s providence is not orchestrating the events of your life?

Why do you think that is?

2. Discuss the connection between God’s sovereignty and human decisions.

What problems arise if have a misunderstanding of the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human will?

3. When have you experienced God’s care and love through community?

4. Brainstorm with your group how you might (individually or as a Small Group) love and welcome the outcast or foreigner in in your community by answering a,b,c below.

a. Love inquiries :

Where and how might you personally interact with the outcast, poor, and unwanted?

b. Love protects:

What specific steps can we take to protect the vulnerable?

c.Love is generous:

How might God be calling you to display generous love to someone undeserving?

What unbelieving neighbor or outcast can you invite to your dinner table this week?

5. How are we like Naomi and Ruth in God’s field?

Advent is a time of longing and waiting for the return of our Redeemer. Hardship, grief and sorrow can make that waiting difficult, but there is hope for those who come to Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. When are you most likely to feel pressure to act happier and cheerier than you really feel, or to conceal sorrow and grief? Why?

2. Is Naomi’s attitude a sign of unfaithfulness? Why or why not?

3. How does the gospel give us freedom to lament in difficult times?

4. Why is it sometimes hard to see clues of God’s grace at work in our world and lives? Where do you see his grace in your life today?

5. Naomi experiences the kindness of God in the kindness of Ruth, Moabitess. Why is this surprising? Where in your life are you experiencing God’s kindness through the kindness of a non-Christian?

6. Does hardship make it easier or more difficult to remain close to Jesus? Why?

7. Why isn’t the notion of “waiting” a more prominent spiritual discipline for Christians?

In this passage, James tells us that wandering from the truth is a real possibility in the Christian community. How do we respond when we see a brother or sister going the wrong way? How would we like them to respond to us? As part of the community of Christ, James calls us to bring back those wandering away from the truth.

Sermon Outline:

I. Wandering from the Truth is a Real Possibility.

II. Rescuing the Wanderer is a Community Responsibility.

III. Restoring the Wanderer is a Worthwhile Endeavor.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What are some reasons you think we may “wander from the truth” in our doctrine or behavior? What cultural factors may contribute to this?

2. Why do you think we're often tempted to talk about someone else's sin or wandering rather than personally going to them? What fears hold us back?

3. Of the three elements needed in the heart to bring back wanderers, (conviction, compassion, courage), where do you feel strongest and where do you feel weakest?

4. Tell about a time someone lovingly confronted you when you were straying in some way. How did you respond initially and what fruit came from it? Who might need to hear the truth in love from you?

5. What are some practical things we can do as a small group to cultivate authentic community where we support and exhort one another if someone starts to wander? How can we cultivate courage, care, and truth-telling among ourselves?