Grace Community

Outline:

Behold God’s beloved servant (1)  

Behold the servant’s mission (1b-4)  

Behold the servant’s commission. (5-7)  

Behold, the servant will come for the glory of God. (8-9)  

Behold Jesus, God’s beloved servant who came to make the weak and lost right with God. 

Home Group Questions:

Outline:

God tells His people not to fear. (10)

God with destroy all their enemies. (11-13)

God will use His weak people for a great purpose. (14-16)

God provides life and rest for His people. (18-20)

Jesus defeated our enemies, gives us abundant new life, soul satisfying rest and keeps us safe in Him. 

Home Group Questions:

 God’s focus in these verses is to make sure His people don’t fear despite their circumstances. In verse 10, He says He will be with them and strengthen them. Can you describe a time when you know God has strengthened you? Can you think of specific ways and means God strengthened you? 

In verses 11–13, God says He will remove His people’s enemies. How should this help us not to fear in the midst of persecution? How does this help us to obey Jesus’ command: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you”? 

In verses 14–16, God says that by His power He will use weak people to change the world and separate the wheat from the chaff. How should this inspire the way we live our lives and encourage us in evangelism? Why should this make us rejoice and boast in the Lord? 

In verses 18–20, God describes how He cares for the poor and needy by providing an abundance of life-giving water and trees for provision and rest. When in your life have you felt a thirst for God, and/or when have you felt as though you were well satisfied in God? What in your life contributed to these feelings? How should the thought of that new creation hope shape our priorities in the present? Why is it so important that we “consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it”? 

Home Group Questions

When are you most like to feel worried or anxious?  

1.    Read John 14:1-18.  What key words do you notice? What stands out as important?  What questions do you have after reading the passage? 

2.    In your own words describe the exchange that takes place in this passage. 

3.    How does Jesus expect his disciples to be feeling at this time (Verse 1)?  Why might they be feeling this way? 

4.    In this passage, Jesus offers a series of comforts, or reasons to trust him. What promise does Jesus make to comfort them (Verses 2-3)?  

What is he describing?  Why do you think he chooses to use this image?   

5.    (Verses 2-3) Surely, Jesus is not behind schedule in preparing this “house”. Jesus now promised his followers entry into heaven.  What was yet to happen in order that Jesus’ followers could be welcomed into heaven?  

How has Jesus prepared the way for us to enter heaven? 

Jesus confirms this in his answer to Thomas’ question.  What momentous claim does he make in Verse 6?   What are some of the implications of this claim?  

6.    There are many wonderful features of heaven.  What most appeals to you?  What does Jesus draw our attention to in Verse 3?  

7.    How would you sum up what Jesus says in Verses 7-11?  

8.    Read Verse 12… “greater things than these”.  What might Jesus be referring to here?  

What truths do you see in this passage that motivate you toward urgent evangelism?  

9.    In Verses 16-18 we learn that Jesus has not left us alone.  What comfort do we receive from the Holy Spirit in these verses? 

APPLICATION:  In those worrying and anxious situations you face, which of these truths do you find most helpful?  Why?  

Outline: 

God proves Himself sovereign and the nations and idols to be nothing. (1-7 & 21-29) 

  God declares His providential sovereignty. (2-4 & 25) 

  The nations and idols have no power or worth.  (5-7 & 22-  29)  

God in His sovereignty chooses, calls and keeps his people because of His grace. (8-9)  

Jesus is God’s sovereign providence displayed; fulfilling, giving and keeping God’s promises to all who have faith. 

Home Group Questions:

1. In verses 1 and 21, God calls the nations to respond and present their proofs. Why should we welcome people to express the truth claims of their belief systems and to question ours?
2. How does God declaring His providential sovereignty (vv. 2–4, 25–29) by foretelling world events give us assurance of faith? How does this help us when defending the validity of our beliefs in comparison with other religions and worldviews?
3. How should God's sovereignty help us as we look at world events, including the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, what is happening in Israel today, and what is happening to the church around the world? How should this help us when we personally face difficult circumstances? (Romans 8:28)
4. God says to Israel/Jacob that, as the offspring of Abraham, they have not been cast off. According to Galatians 3:7–9, who are the sons of Abraham? For whom were God's promises intended, according to Galatians 3:15–16? What does Galatians 3:23–29 teach us about who the offspring of Abraham are? How does this show us that, even today, God has not cast off Israel, Abraham's offspring?
5. God calls Israel His servant, Jacob His chosen one, and Abraham His beloved. He calls the church collectively, and each believer individually, to belong to Him and serve Him. How should this guide our lives and give us purpose, both in private and when we are out in the world? (1 Peter 2:9–12)

Outline: 

Live to please God more and more.(1-2) 

Grow in holiness more and more (3-8) 

Love one another more and more (9-10) 

Work well for God’s glory more and more. (11-12) 

Encourage one another to hope in Jesus coming more and more.(13-18) 

May Grace Community strive to please God by loving and exalting Jesus, through obedience to His commands, love for His brothers and sisters, a desire to live for His glory and encouraging each other to hope in Jesus' return. 

Home group questions:

1. The Thessalonian church was doing fairly well, so why do you think Paul felt the need to write, “We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more”? Why should being “in the Lord Jesus” and pleasing God be the greatest motivation for the believer and the church? 

2. Paul says that sanctification is God’s will for the believer and specifically mentions abstaining from sexual immorality. This is still relevant to the church today. How can believers and the church guard themselves against the dangers of sexual immorality? How should we handle and help those who have given in to temptation? 

3. Paul calls the believers brothers and praises them for showing brotherly love. How should brotherly love shape our attitude toward attending and being involved in the church? 

4. Read verses 13–18. Christians use these verses to defend either a secret rapture of believers or a one-time Second Coming of Jesus. How do either of these outcomes affect our Christian walk today? What do you think Paul’s primary purpose was in writing these verses? How do these verses encourage you, and how could you use them to encourage others? 

Outline:

God is incomprehensible and all wise.  (12-14) 

Give God His rightful place. (18-20) 

See people in their right place. (21-24) 

God is transcendent but present and active. (25-26) 

God is holy and yet intimately involved with His people. (27-28) 

God gives those who wait on Him supernatural energy to carry on.(29-31) 

Jesus is the incomprehensible God who came in humility to save people and gives strength to those who wait on Him. 

Sermon Outline

God comforts His people by assuring them their sins are dealt with. (1-2)
God will come and reveal himself fully. (3-5)
God’s word will never fail. (6-8)
Let the comforted proclaim the good news. (9)
The good news is that God powerfully and tenderly saves and leads His people. (10-11) 

Jesus is the comforting shepherd who came to powerfully save and tenderly lead his sheep. 

Outline

God hears and sees the cries of His people and acts according to His promises. (4-6 & 21-22)

God uses the miraculous to assure His people. (7-8)

The beauty of God’s salvation, inspires a loving response.  (15-20)

Beware, temptation comes and the desires of the flesh are strong. (39:1-4)

Be humbled by the judgment and mercy of God. (5-8)

Jesus is the perfect king who saves us from death by His wounds, so in thanks lets live for the praise of His glory. 

Outline:

God has our days numbered so set your house in order. (1) 

What will be our testimony when our days are ending. (2-3a) 

Death is a horrible ending. (3b) 

a)   Death comes too soon, is inescapable and separates man from God and people from people. ​(10-11) 

b)   Death is in God’s time, by God’s hand because of God’s wrath. (12-13) 

c)   Only God can save people from death and His wrath. (14) 

Jesus is our pledge of safety who sets our house in order, is the focus of our testimony and saves us from death. 

Home Group Questions:

Isaiah told Hezekiah to set his house in order in preparation for death. What does it look like for a believer to set their house in order? Why is it a good idea to think about this early and not wait until the end of our life? 

Hezekiah was experiencing struggles in multiple ways. When have you experienced times like this, and how has it affected your relationship with God? 

Hezekiah wept bitterly upon hearing he would die. Why is it OK for believers to mourn death? How should the Christian hope of resurrection shape the way we respond honestly to grief and death? 

Hezekiah asked God to remember the testimony of the good things he had done in obedience to God. What would you like your testimony to be towards the end of your life? Why is it good to contemplate these things now? How could you work towards having the testimony you hope for today? How should Jesus’ love as our pledge of safety be the motivation for a good testimony of faithful service? 

Outline:

Your heritage does not make you a child of God. 

Your father is revealed by your family resemblance. 

God is the Father of those who love His Son. 

Sin makes us resemble the wrong father 

Consider Jesus’ character and words  

Jesus sets slaves free and brings them into God's family 

Home Group Questions:

Jesus told the Jews, who were part of the covenant people of God, that their heritage through Abraham did not make them right with God or heirs of the promises of God. How might people within the church have similar beliefs to these Jews? How is it that Jesus can say to law-following Jews that they are slaves to sin and not right with God? How should this affect the way we preach and teach within the church and our families?

Read Galatians 3:16–18 and 23–29. What does it teach us about who the true offspring of Abraham are and who are heirs to the promises of God?

According to Jesus in verses 39–43, what are indicators that a person is a child of Abraham and therefore of God? How have you grown in these areas in your life?

How should the knowledge that lying and murder (which John describes as being angry with your brother) make us reflect on the devil’s image affect our daily lives? What is the reason we behave this way, and how could we overcome such struggles?

What difference should knowing that we are loved and adopted as God’s children make to our prayer, worship, relationships, and response to failure?