The Gospel Gifts us Partners in Discipleship and Mission ...

I. We have Partners that Equip us for Ministry so we All Continue to Progress! (11-13)

II. We have Partners to Protect us and Speak the Gospel into every Corner of our Lives! (14-15)

III. We have Partners to Join our Gifts with in order to Expand and Mature our Family of Faith! (16)

Practical Implications

o What areas might God want to fill out in your life? Our church?

o What barriers do you have to partnering w/ others for growth, accountability and mission?

o 365, 52, 12, for 1: Who are you pursuing? How can groups partner with you?

Abiding in Jesus is the Key to Discipleship and Mission. . .

I. Intimacy and Dependence are Essential for Living out Everyday Mission! (1-5)

II. Engaging the Disciplines is Part of God Glorifying Impact on Ourselves and Others! (6-8)

III. Loving Obedience Maximizes Joy, it doesn’t Hinder it! (9-11)

Practical Implications

o What is the temperature of your relationship w/ the Lord right now?

o How are you engaging the spiritual disciplines?

o How can you and your groups cultivate a heart for God’s mission and the lost, practically?

Christmas is Good News . . .

I. That is About a Person! (1-12)

II. Which Evokes a Response! (13-20)

Practical Implications

o Practice meditating on 2:10-11- record what you find and talk it over with someone.

o Who can you share some of these truths with this Christmas?

o What would viewing life through the lens of worship change for you?

God’s Christmas Plan flows through/to Broken People . . .

I. The Era of Abraham: a saga of the Honorable, Scoundrels and Sinners. (1-6)

II. The Era of David: Hope fades as Kings fail, but pockets of Faithfulness remain. (7-11)

III. The Era after Exile: the Same Ole Same Ole until Jesus is Born. (12-17)

Practical Implications

o Where do you see cynicism, disillusionment creep into your heart?

o What are some of your biggest failures? How have you let them define you or God?

o How do worldly circumstances tempt you to fear or frustration? How does Christmas encourage you to hope?

Christmas Collides with our Experience of the Fall . . .

I. Darkness pervades the World, but Christmas brings Light! (1-2)

II. Life is Heavy, but Christmas brings Joyful Freedom! (3-5)

III. The World Entangles us in every way, but Christmas brings a New King and Kingdom! (6-7)

Practical Implications

o What are some ways you’ve experienced darkness of the fall?

o How does Christmas reorient you in face of sin/suffering?

o What about vv6-7 most encourage you? Why?

No Place Left from Romans 15:23 is the idea of seeing God’s glory spread to every people and place in a particular area, then moving on to another area where the gospel has not gone yet.

Honor Worthy Leaders . . .

I. Affirm Faithfulness in Leadership and an Ongoing Commitment to the Word! (17-18)

II. Be very Careful in Harming the Reputation or Making Accusations against Leaders. (19-21)

III. Be Slow and Deliberate in Raising Up New Leaders, we are Accountable for who we Commission! (22-25)

Practical Implications

o What qualities equal “leading well” to you? What about following well?

o What are some ways slander slips out in you conversations? How can you honor leaders?

o What are you cultivating in yourself and your service where you are?

Give Thanks for the Family Called the Church . . .

I. It is Proper to Give Joyful Thanks for the Work of God and the Relational Bonds in the Church! (3-7)

II. Growing Gratitude Motivates Growing Love and Sanctification to God’s Glory! (8-11)

Practical Implications:

o What is your thankful list of God’s work in past 5-10 years?

o Who are some of the special people God has put in your life and what makes them special?

o What areas of growth is God pushing on for you lately?

The Gospel Leads us to Tangibly Honor the Elderly . . .

I. Demonstrate your Faith by Honoring and Caring for your Aging Family Members! (3-8)

II. Delight to Repay the Kindness and Care of Godly Seniors! (9-10)

III. Help Each Other Walk through Loss and Heartbreak, so as to Avoid Pain’s Pitfalls! (11-16)

Practical Implications

o What area of deacon oversight could/should you try?

o How can you honor the seniors in your life/church? How can we as a church do this better?

o Where are you tempted to idleness and/or gossip? What boundaries might be helpful to fight this?

Follow God’s Path to Influence . . .

I. Cultivate Consistent Gospel Character and Trust God’s Word to do God’s Work! (11-13) (Oct. 29 Sermon)

II. Be Responsible to Use your Spiritual Gifts for the Good of God’s Family! (14-15)

III. Aim for Salvation, Restoration and Growth in you and those around you! (16)

IV. Honor the Age and Gender Relationships in your Engagement or Correction of Others! (5:1-2)

Practical Implications

o What are your spiritual gifts and what are you doing with them?

o How might thinking beyond yourself, to the people you influence, change some of the things you deem wise/unwise?

o What are some key principles you should use to interact w/ the different ages and genders?