FSBCS Audio Sermons

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. As a teen, how did peer pressure affect the way you dressed? How you acted? How does peer pressure from secular culture affect you today? How does the peer pressure from the well-meaning Christian culture affect you today? Good and bad?

3. Read Isaiah 55:11. What does this verse tell us about God’s will and sovereignty? What does this passage teach us about His control over today’s culture?

4. What well-meaning idols do you see in today’s church? What are some of the opinions common among Christians that are not aligned to God’s Word?

5. Pastor Chad spoke about how God’s Word should confront our opinions that do not align with God. In what ways do you tend to conform to world instead of God’s Word?

6. Read Romans 12:1-2. How does the “renewing of your mind” happen? What instrument(s) does God use to renew our minds?

7. How are God's thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-11) confronting your opinions or beliefs to align them with Him?

Scripture Passages:

Matthew 1-5

Do You Need Some Hope?

Isaiah 9:6-7

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. What is your favorite memory of the Christmas Season? Why is it your favorite?

3. Pastor Chad focused on a prophecy found in Isaiah 9:6. Imagine if you were there when Isaiah spoke this prophecy? A time of great fear and sadness. What would you have felt in that moment? How would this prophecy bring hope into your life?

4. Of the names/titles given in this prophecy, which one do you identify with most? Why?

5. When you read these names/titles together, what type of person do you imagine in your mind? How is that image fulfilled by Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

6. What does it mean that “the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end” (verse 7)? How does the eternal peace of Jesus apply to your life?

7. Pastor Chad spoke about how Christmas may be a time of pain and sorrow for some people. If this is you, how can Jesus be your “Wonderful Counselor” through His love? If you know someone that struggles in this season, what can you do to connect them to Jesus as their “Wonderful Counselor”?

8. Pastor Chad had a main question that he posed in the message: Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why do YOU celebrate Christmas? How can you connect others to that reason this Christmas Season?

Scripture Passages: Isaiah 9 & 53

Does Jesus connect to us in Prayer? Luke 1:5-17

 

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. What is the wildest or greatest surprise that you or your family has experienced? Explain.

3. What does that miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth tell us about the power of God? What does it tell us about how God works in us for His purposes?

4. Zechariah doubted the words of Gabriel the angel (Luke 1:18-25). Tell about a time when you doubted a promise that God gives. How did you overcome your doubt in His Word? What has helped you in your battle against unbelief?

5. How would the birth of this son affect Zechariah and Elizabeth? Describe John’s mission in your own words. Why is this mission significant?

6. How is John’s mission a model for the mission that Jesus has for your life? How might you “prepare” people for the Lord? Scripture Passages: Matthew 1-3

Acts 28:30-31

 

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. What is your favorite competition that you have competed in? Why?

3. Read Philippians 1:12-26, which was written while imprisoned in Rome. What can we learn from Paul’s perspective on his imprisonment in Rome?

4. Pastor Chad said that Paul teaches three aspects to running our race for Jesus: training, running, and ending well. In 1 Cor. 9:24-27, emphasizes the importance of discipline in following Jesus. How would you describe your “Gospel readiness” training/discipline program?

5. How would you describe the various races that Jesus has you running in right now (work, children, neighborhood, etc.)? How are those races going?

6. What goal(s) do you need to set for the various races in your life in order to ensure that you end those races well for Jesus? What goal(s) will help you obey Jesus and tell others about Jesus?

7. What are your top 3 takeaways from our series on the book of Acts? What has been most meaningful?

 

Scripture Passages:

John 13-21

What Do You Value Most?

Acts 20-21 and 2 Corinthians 6:1-12

 

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. How do you say goodbye to people you love? Tell your group of a time when you had to say goodbye.

3. What hardships has Paul had to endure so far? Why does he continue doing what he is doing? Explain.

4. In your opinion, did Paul make the right decision to go to Jerusalem, even though godly people through the Spirit urged him not to go?

5. How would you complete this sentence: “The one thing I must accomplish at any cost is ________.”? How does it relate to this weekend’s message?

6. Pastor Chad challenged us to understand the eternal implications regarding our emphasis on the Gospel in our lives. How does your life reflect the importance of eternity… both your eternity and the eternities of those around you?

7. What affections have prevented you from doing what Jesus is clearly calling you to do? What do you need to do in order to shift those affections towards the Gospel?

 

Scripture Passages:

John 3-7 2

Faith Always Leads to Life-Change

Acts 19

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. What experiences have you had with religious counterfeits?

3. How have you experienced a change in affections and desires through knowing Jesus? What did change and has changed in you?

4. Look at Acts 19:8-9 and 19:13-15. What differences do you see in the ways that these two groups of Jews viewed Jesus?

5. What can we learn from the new believers burning their valuable books out of their life-change in Jesus?

6. How do people try to use Jesus for their own purposes today? What is the difference between that and true faith in Jesus?

7. What do you need to “burn” in order to live for Jesus? What will it “cost” you?

 

Scripture Passages: Luke 22-24, John 1-2

What is your purpose in life?

Acts 17

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. If someone made a statue of you, what pose would be most appropriate? What inscription?

3. How did the Bereans study the Scriptures (how often, in what setting, with what purpose)? How should this example shape how you study the Scriptures?

4. Paul showed some serious versatility when sharing the Gospel. Why is it important to be flexible with HOW you share your faith with different types of people with different types of backgrounds?

5. Paul got upset at the different idols that he saw throughout Athens. What are some of the idols around you and in our society? What idols do you struggle with in your own life?

6. Pastor Chad challenged us to love the Lord with all of our minds. What practices do you have in your life that helps you grow your mind in Jesus and grow your mind to better lead others to Jesus?

7. Like the Athenian Philosophers, whom do you know who has very little, or no background in the Gospel? Could you share the Gospel with them the way Paul shared with the philosophers? Why or why not? What do you need to do in order to be better prepared for these Gospel conversations?

Scripture Passages: Luke 17-21

What is your purpose in life?

Acts 16

Questions:

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. How did Jesus open your heart to respond to the Gospel? Who did He use as part of that process?

3. Why should the conversions of Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer give us hope in our own salvation? What do these conversions say about God’s desire for all to come to know Him?

4. Read Acts 16:33-34. What does tell us about the jailer’s life-change? What does it tell us about how we are to treat others as a result of our relationship with Jesus?

5. Paul wrote a letter to the church that is established in this chapter of Acts. The letter is the found in our Bibles as the book of Philippians. Read Philippians 1:9-11. How is God at work in the church according to this passage? How does this this make you feel about uncertainties in your life?

6. Pastor Chad said that we exist for the Gospel, and Paul’s use of his citizenship demonstrates that. Who has given up their “rights” in order to better represent Jesus to you? When have you given up your “rights” in order to better represent Jesus to others? How can you do so now?

7. Pastor Chad asked the question, “Why do you exist?” How would you answer that question? If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If not, what needs to change?

Scripture Passages: Luke 7-16