John 14:1-7

Big Idea: The Way is revealed to us as we keep our eyes on Jesus 

1. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means curious questioning 

“The reflective Christian is one who questions what she believes while continuing to believe what she is questioning” - Roger Olsen

James 1:5-6

John 15:7

2. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means communicating with your ears open.

Romans 10:17

Ephesians 5:15-17

3. Keeping your eyes on Jesus means being involved in community

Hebrews 10:24-25

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - MLK Jr.

Response: 

• Jesus is the Way. 

• Jesus meets us where we’re at.

• What Christ has revealed is meant to be reproduced.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Devotional:

Looking for a scripture reading plan for the year, or hoping to add a devotional to your routine? We will be going through the Upside Down Kingdom series as an exploration of our theme for the year! If you’d like to join us, visit evergreenpnw.com/teaching to get started.

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► Passages: John 14 1-14; Jeremiah 29:11; Acts 4:12

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Hebrews 12:1-2

John 21:1-19

Big Idea: Keep your eyes on Jesus, the one who has redeemed you.

Context 

• Peter once again got out of the boat to meet Jesus

• Peter’s denial is recorded in all four gospels (ouch). 

• Jesus performed miracles, provided for his people, served, and restored. 

• The three questions about Peter’s love for Jesus are certainly tied to Peter’s three denials.

Jesus loves you just as you are AND loves you too much to leave you that way

1 Peter 1:18-21

Our obedience to Jesus is the overflow of a heart and life focused on Him

Matthew 22:37

“There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.” - D.L. Moody

Response

• Allow time in your day to focus on Jesus, and allow him to confront you with the truth about your life. (He loves you just as you are AND loves you too much to leave you that way).

• LOVE your Oikos

• Commit this year to keeping your eyes on Jesus

“I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven. Amen."

- John Wesley Covenant Prayer

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's passage: Hebrews 12:1-2

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Psalm 77:11-14

Big Idea: Remembering what God has done positions us for faith for the future.

1. Extravagant Blessing: The Lord has blessed us

Joshua 4:1-7

We remember that God blesses people, He has blessed us, and we are able to pay that blessing forward.

2. Deliverance: The Lord has bought us, rescued us, and delivered us

1 Samuel 7:5-12

3. Testimony: The Power When We Share God’s Transformational Power

Revelation 12:11

Response:

• Gratitude: Stop and give thanks for what God has done FOR you and THROUGH you

• Establish: create YOUR marker of remembrance

• Step Out: Ask God to direct you for the year ahead–serving, giving, partnering

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

John 1:9-1

Isaiah 7:14

Big Idea: Emmanuel, God With Us, ultimately has come for our transformation.

1. Jesus is with you

Emmanuel - “God with us”

Matthew 1:20-23

We are never alone. We are never stranded. We are never abandoned.

2. Jesus understands

Hebrews 4:14-16

Embrace God’s kindness. Receive His grace. God knows you…and still loves you.

3. Jesus Changes Everything

John 1:12-13

Jesus came…to change you, change me, and give us the freedom to experience real, pure, unconditional love.

Let Jesus into your life. Embrace the conviction of the Holy Spirit and allow Jesus to change your life…today.

RESPONSE: 

Find a moment and meditate on Emmanuel: God is with you, Jesus understands you, and He is here to save, change, and heal you.

Additional Verses:

Deuteronomy 31:6

Deuteronomy 31:8

Joshua 1:5

Joshua 1:9

1 Chronicles 28:20

Psalm 94:14

Isaiah 41:10

Matthew 28:19-20

Psalm 27:10

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Big Idea: Jesus is the hope of the world.

Luke 2:4-7

Luke presents Jesus as the savior of the world.

Jesus came for the oppressed and outcast.

Luke 4:14-20

Response

• Look: Look at the manger and see that Jesus came for the world

• See: See that you are deserving of His love

• Open: Open your heart to the hope of Jesus 

• Share: Share the hope of Jesus with those around you

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's verse: Isaiah 15:1-10

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

“It is a remarkable fact that, among the variations in the order in which the Gospels appear in early lists and texts, the one constant factor is that Matthew always comes first.” - R. T.  France

Matthew's gospel contains more references to the Old Testament than any other biography of Jesus with a laser-focus on one key theme: Jesus is King.

Matthew 2:1-12

Big Idea: Knowing Jesus' Identity as King allows us to recognize Him in our lives.

• Magi as “King Makers”

Daniel 2:48

Matthew 2:1-2

“Though many kings of the Jews had been born and died, none of them did the Magi seek to adore.” - Saint Augustine

Matthew 2:3

Matthew 2:11

• Recognizing the Shepherd King

John 1:11

1 Samuel 8:6-7

Ezekiel 37:24

2 Samuel 5:2

​​Prophets called out other kings for not being shepherds.

Nahum 3:18

• Jesus as the Shepherd-King

Psalm 23

A shepherd implies the authority to lead and the strength to protect.

John 10:11

Luke 15:1-7

Response:

• Recognize Jesus for the King He is, instead of the King you want him to be.

• Put your faith in the Good Shepherd.

• Live in such a way that your Oikos can see you following Jesus.

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's verse: Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Mark 1:1-8

Big Idea: The Good news comes in the unlikeliest places.

Good News

Hebrew:

Bisser [bi-sair]. Verb—good news

Besorah. Noun—the good news given

Greek:

Euangelion— Eu (good) and angelion (news)

Luke 2:8-14

1. Anticipation: The good news was predicted

Malachi 3:1

Challenges without hope lead to despair. 

Challenges with anticipation lead to joy.

Isaiah 40:9-11

2. Desperation: The good news was needed.

Isaiah 61:1-3

“At no point since 2005 have a majority of Americans said the country was on the right track, according to Gallup. Whether the economy is growing or shrinking, whether the president is a Democrat or Republican, most Americans believe that we have lost our way.”  Ours Was the Shining Future, David Leonhardt 

3. Deliverance: the Good News brought freedom.

Isaiah 52:7-9

Mark 1:14-15

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis

4. Personification: the Good News comes as a person-Jesus

Luke 4:14-21

Response:

• Look: Attentively seek to see God’s love all around you.

• Open: Receive His peace and grace as it is poured into your life.

• Share: Be the bearers of good news this Christmas season

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Big Idea: We are chosen to carry the message of God’s hope and love to our world.

1. Be Light

Matthew 5:15-16

• Let your message matter more than your opinion

• Let your message matter more than your image

• Let your message match your actions

• Be a light IN the world 

1 Peter 2:12 (The Message)

“Sometimes we make too much of our work, thinking we have to control the outcome. We simply have the opportunity to love a human God created.” - MaryKate Morse.   

2. Be a Bridge

Acts 17: 24-28

“The church is not a place into which people escape from the world, but it is God's bridgehead into the world. Christians are called to live as signposts to the new creation, as the bridge of the Messiah.” - Tom Wright

3. Speak the message

2 Corinthians 4: 5-6

1 Timothy 4:10

2 Cor 5:14-15

“The world needs some good sermon illustrations. That is, we need more people whose lives prove the reality of the Risen Christ. Before people look at Jesus, they look at His followers.” - Mike Glen

Response:

1. Be reconciled to God. 

2. Don’t try to control the outcome. 

3. This week: Be light, build a bridge, and speak when you can.

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Luke 10:38-42

Big Idea:  We are called to pursue intimacy with God as our #1 priority!

This is NOT a call of duty - This is a call of opportunity.

3 Keys to lasting intimacy:

1 - Intentional Listening 

John 5:19-20

Be intentional if you are going to be intimate.

2 - Fight Distractions

We fight distractions for the benefit of the relationship!

Facts about distractions - 

• Distractions can worry and upset us 

• Distractions can cause contention & bitterness

“Because what you give your attention to is the person you become. Put another way: the mind is the portal to the soul, and what you fill your mind with will shape the trajectory of your character. In the end, your life is no more than the sum of what you gave your attention to.” - John Mark Comer

“What we give our mind's attention to, gets our heart's affection.” -G Connor Salter

Common Distractions:

• Success (2 Timothy 2:4)

• Information (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

• Noise (Psalm 46:10)

How does one fight distractions?

• Purge the problem

• Pursue the priority

Matthew 6:33

3 - Intimacy is chosen and can never be stolen

Luke 10:42

James 4:8

John 10:10

Response:

• Commit to pursuing intimacy

• Aggressively fight distractions

• Be so incredibly intimate with God that people will ask you to share your story

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Luke 22:39-46

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Big Idea: As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to uniquely use our gifts. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-18

• Unity in Diversity

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

“God designed His Church to function as a harmonious orchestra, with each member playing a unique instrument, producing a beautiful symphony of faith.” - John MacArthur

• Neglecting Our Divine Design

1 Corinthians 12:15-18

“When we neglect our unique place and purpose in the Body of Christ, we hinder the Church’s ability to fully express God’s love and truth to the world.” - Charles Stanley

• Embracing Our SHAPE

Romans 12:6-8

SHAPE: Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experience. (Learn more here: https://www.evergreenpnw.com/shape)

1 Corinthians 12:6

“God’s call is not only to salvation but to service. Embrace your unique gifts to be a channel of God’s grace to the world.” - Rick Warren

Response:

• It is our divine calling to recognize and embrace our God-given SHAPE, for in doing so, we contribute to the unity and effectiveness of the Body of Christ. 

• Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and reflect on our gifts, hearts, abilities, personality, and experience to serve the Church.

• Love and serve your Oikos in the giftings that God has uniquely given you.

5 potential questions to help you identify your spiritual gifts:

1. As I study how gifts operate in the Bible, do any resonate in my soul?

2. What do I enjoy doing?

3. What is the Holy Spirit telling me?

4. What ministry in my life is God blessing?

5. What gifts do others see operating in me?

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Luke 9:23-26

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)