Fletcher Church

Past Examples Warn us to Watch Over Ourselves & Others…

I. It’s too easy for our Hearts to Harden by Sin’s Subtle Deceptions! (5-14)

II. Unbelief is always the Root of Disobedience and it Comes with Consequences! (15-19)

Practical Implications

o What areas of your life and relationships do you see callouses?

o How can you more carefully tend your heart?

o How can you encourage others to purity and faithfulness?

Jesus Gathers, Equips, and Sends Faithful Followers to Engage in His Kingdom’s Mission…

I. Pray Earnestly for God to Send Gospel Partners with You to Places He’s about to Show up! (1-2)

II. Go to the Harvest Urgently, Trusting God’s Provision over Self-Protection! (3-4)

III. Proclaim the Kingdom to People of Peace in Word, Deed, and Genuine Biblical Friendship! (5-12)

Practical Implications

o What is keeping you from praying earnestly that God would raise up laborers? (Heart)

o What is distracting you from getting to the mission? (Head)

o What is one practical step you need to take to be equipped to live missionally? (Hands)

Jesus Empowers us to Focus on & Hold Fast to Him . . .

I. As the Sent One, He Faithfully Speaks for God and Intercedes for Us! (1-2)

II. He is Worthy of Much More Glory as God’s Son than the Greatest of God’s Servants! (3-6a)

III. We are His, so Live w/ Hope-Filled Courage and Boasting in Jesus! (6b)

Practical Implications

o How can you focus your thoughts on Jesus?

o What is currently sapping your courage and strength?

o What 3 truths about Jesus encourage you most?

Jesus became Man to Identify w/ Us . . .

I. Humiliated and Exalted: He Died our Death so we Could Have His Life! (2:5-9)

II. The Only Way: It was Necessary for Him to Suffer to Adopt us into God’s Family! (10-13)

III. The Result: He became our High Priest who Defeated Satan and Helps us! (14-18)

Practical Implications

o How can you embrace suffering w/ hope?

o What can you add to your Jesus is Better list?

o Who can you invite into God’s Family?

Christ Calls Us to Persevere by Faith-filled Prayer…

I. Christ Desires His People to Persistently Pray and Not Lose Heart! (1-5)

II. Christ Promises His People Righteous Answers to Their Prayers! (6-7)

III. As Christ’s People, We Must Live by Faith, Confident of His Soon Return! (8)

Practical Applications

o Repent and Believe the Gospel for Salvation.

o Allow God’s Word to Remind You of His Goodness.

o Pray with Persistence and Confidence that God will Act.

o Remain Faithful and Witness to those who do not Believe.

Hold Fast to the Better Word found in Jesus . . .

I. The Better Word comes from God the Son and the Promised Messiah King! (1:4-14)

II. The Better Word Demands a Higher Devotion! (2:1-4)

Practical Implications

o How can you pay closer attention to the gospel word?

o How can you tangibly help others know and remember the gospel word?

o Who can you serve and share the gospel word with?

God Spoke and Revealed Himself . . .

I. In the Past, Over Hundreds of Years in Many Ways

by Many Prophets! (1)

II. In the Final Age through His Unique Son Who is

God, Savior and Sovereign! (2-4)

Practical Implications

o Where do you turn for forgiveness and restoration?

o How can you posture yourself for meaningful time in

the word daily?

o What can you add to your Jesus is Better list from this

past week?

o Prepare for the Supper!

Jesus is Better . . .

I. Jesus is Better than Anything we can Gain or Lose in this World! (1:4, 3:3, 4:8-9, 15-16, 7:15-16, 19, 22, 8:6-7, 9:11-14, 9:26b-28, 10:11-14)

II. So Don’t Turn Back or Drift from Him! (2:1-3a, 3:12-14, 10:19-25, 32-36, Ch 11)

III. Do Hold Fast and Press on to Maturity! (3:14, 4:11, 14, 5:12-14, 6:1, 10:19-25, 12:1-4)

Practical Implications

o What good, neutral or bad things in this world do you tend to hold tightly?

o What are 10 specific glorious things about Jesus you can list?

o What can you do to practically continue your growth toward maturity?

Press into the Ministry of Active Restoration of Others . . .

I. We are all Prone to Wander , so Let’s Continuously Look to Bring Each Other Back ! (19)

II. We all Hate Conflict, but the Messy Process of Restoration is Worth it! (20)

Practical Implications

o What areas of your life do you see a tendency to stray?

o How can you establish relationships that include pursuit?

o What keeps you from speaking or hearing?

Prayer is a Powerful Tool as We Face the Stuff of Life . . .

I. Process Life’s Struggles and Joys before the Lord! (13)

II. Meet Sickness and Sin with Faith-Filled Prayer in Community! (14-16a)

III. Remember Prayer is an Effective and Powerful Weapon given to All Believers! (16b-18)

Practical Implications

o How can you cultivate a consistent balanced prayer life?

o What hinders you from expectant, faith-filled prayers?

o How can you build the practice of confession into your community life?