GCC Newton sermon audio

What’s Real?

How would I describe my faith? Is it active and powerful? Is it present but idle? Is it in my heart as well as my head?

How would the people closest to me describe my faith?

What kind of faith do I admire? What is stopping me from making it my own?

Can I have a true faith in something/someone if it doesn’t make a real difference in the way I act and think?

Does my faith inspire me to sacrifice my life or comfort for God and others?

What’s Real?

Have I ever broken God’s Law? What effect does that have in my life?

What does God’s Law ultimately represent?

When has God shown me mercy recently?

When have I shown mercy? Why did I do it?

What’s Real?

Have I ever been treated unfairly? How did it make me feel?

When have I treated somebody well based on what they could do for me?

When have I treated somebody poorly based on what they couldn’t do for me?

How am I treating people at my work or in my home? (Eph. 6:9)

Why is being “partial” opposed to God’s Kingdom?

What’s Real?

What position does the Bible have in my life?

In which area am I most likely to hear without doing?

What does “bridle his tongue” mean for me? (1:26)

How can a religion be “worthless” if it is based on the One truth God of the Bible?

How can I partner with God to care for the hurting?

What’s Real?

Have you ever spoken to someone that wasn’t really listening to you? How did it make you feel?

Reading the Bible is the absolute best way to listen to God. Besides that, how else do you “listen to God?”

How do you spot His voice when other voices are competing for your attention?

In which situations are you most easily angered? Why?

What’s Real?

What am I easily tempted by? How does my childhood link to those desires?

Could I be misidentifying a test as a temptation, or vice versa? (“Lord, give me wisdom.”) If so, how?

How does knowing that Jesus was tempted help me address my own temptations? (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15)

What good gifts (from God) can I focus on to keep my attention off temptations?

What’s Real?

Why does boasting feel like a wicked word? Is it always wrong to boast?

James uses the word boast, which means “to take pride in something.” It’s also translated as glory, rejoice in, brag. How do these other translations change your understanding of what boasting means?

What do you boast about (e.g. children, grandchildren, family heritage, sports team)? Why?

How can you boast in such a way that points to God and His work in your life and not yourself or your efforts?

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

Why would God design the church to have elders if we all have the Holy Spirit to help us?

How have correct beliefs (sound doctrine) shaped my relationship with God?

What lies has Bible teaching corrected in my own life?

How can I connect with and support the elders of our church?

Am I looking to godly mentors who live out sound doctrine? Who are they?

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

Where do I sense the Spirit leading me that may result in my own version of “imprisonment and afflictions”?

What am I tempted to look to for value? Endurance? Purpose?

What is my “tentmaking” ministry? How can I meet people where they are with the Gospel?

What lies am I tempted to believe that prevent me from sharing the Gospel like Paul?

What’s Real? What do I see in my life?

What is my favorite outcome of prayer?

How would I “grade” my devotion to prayer?

What is one add-on that would enrich my prayer life?

What keeps me from praying daily?

How do I prepare for prayer?