Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

This morning we’re continuing our sermon series titled “Game Changers.” This week we’ll be sharing about the promises of God that deal with “Humility.” Are you clinging to the Scripture texts given each week? Do you recall the Scripture text that offered you the Promise of God from Week 1 and 2? If so, good for you for clinging to the Word of God that will give you the ammunition needed to combat the evil one when he tries to attack you. If you are unable to recall...we encourage you to start right now by memorizing and clinging to God’s Word.

1. Are you willing to listen to Biblical instruction and correction in regard to “humility”? What in your life is competing with obedience to God or the duties He has given you?

2. Read Philippians 2:3. What does this text mean to you? Is there someone in your life you actively consider more important than yourself? How can you seek to humbly show preference to that person over your own desires or wants?

3. Read 1 Peter 5:5-7. What does God require you to do? Share how this passage may or may not pertain to you? What changes might you need to make in your life to please God?

4. Read Ephesians 4:1-3. What is your immediate takeaway from this text? How do you relate to this passage as a Child of God? How does this passage speak of humility?

5. Do you have a personal life lesson that the Lord has shown you about pride? If so will you share it with your group? Did humility play a part in this lesson?

6. What benefits and promises are there to those who walk in humility?

Prayer for the Week:

Good and gracious Lord, we read in Micah 6:8 how you say: “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Lord, help us to hear these words and choose to walk humbly with You. Help us to choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk humbly with You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Sermon: “Game Changers: Salvation”
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1-5, 8-10
Speaker: Pastor Mick Whistler

Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

This morning we’re continuing our church-wide sermon series “Game Changers.” Our goal throughout this series is to search God’s Word and locate the promises that will provide “game changing” effects to help us live our lives according to God’s way.

This morning we’ll be looking at the promise of “Salvation.”

1. What is one thought from the message you believe the Lord wanted you to hear from His Word? Why did this resonate with you?

2. Read the following passages: 2 Timothy 1: 9, Psalm 62: 1, Acts 2: 21. Each of these passages speaks about salvation. Share your thoughts on each passage. What is God’s promise of salvation?

3. Read the following passages: Hebrews 4: 16, 1 Peter 5: 10, Romans 3: 23-24. Each of these passages speaks about grace. Share your thoughts on how the grace of God affects your life.

4. Read the following passages: Psalm 23: 3, 2 Corinthians 13: 9. Each of these passages speaks about restoration. Share how your life has been restored.

5. What are you currently doing to “work out your salvation”? Describe a way that you will choose to act this week, knowing that God will empower you to accomplish that work.

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, you know every decision I need to make and you know every challenge that I will face. Please forgive me for the times I try to figure this life out on my own. Lord, I need you. I need your Holy Spirit to give me strength, wisdom and direction. Amen.

Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

This morning we’re continuing our church-wide sermon series “Game Changers.” Our goal throughout this series is to search God’s Word and locate the promises that will provide “game changing” effects to help us live our lives according to God’s way.

This morning we’ll be looking at the promise of “Salvation.”

1. What is one thought from the message you believe the Lord wanted you to hear from His Word? Why did this resonate with you?

2. Read the following passages: 2 Timothy 1: 9, Psalm 62: 1, Acts 2: 21. Each of these passages speaks about salvation. Share your thoughts on each passage. What is God’s promise of salvation?

3. Read the following passages: Hebrews 4: 16, 1 Peter 5: 10, Romans 3: 23-24. Each of these passages speaks about grace. Share your thoughts on how the grace of God affects your life.

4. Read the following passages: Psalm 23: 3, 2 Corinthians 13: 9. Each of these passages speaks about restoration. Share how your life has been restored.

5. What are you currently doing to “work out your salvation”? Describe a way that you will choose to act this week, knowing that God will empower you to accomplish that work.

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, you know every decision I need to make and you know every challenge that I will face. Please forgive me for the times I try to figure this life out on my own. Lord, I need you. I need your Holy Spirit to give me strength, wisdom and direction. Amen.

Sermon: “Game Changers: Repent and be Baptized”
Scripture: Acts 2: 36-41
Speaker: Pastor Mick Whistler

Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

This morning we are beginning our church-wide sermon series “Game Changers.” Over the next seven weeks we will tackle a variety of “real life” topics that often cause us problems when we follow them according to our own way. Our goal throughout this series is to search God’s Word and locate the promises that will provide “game changing” effects to help us live our lives according to God’s way.

This morning we will look at the promise of “Baptism” and “Repentance.”

1. There are moments in our life that happen to us that are significant, good or difficult. We call these moments game changers that can change the direction of our lives. It is in those moments we have a choice...are we going to navigate these on our own...or are we going to seek the promises of God that will certainly help and guide us? Think of a time when you were forced to make a choice based on the promise of God. What choice did you make and how did it affect your life?

2. If you were asked about the importance of “Baptism” how would you respond? If you were asked about the importance of “Repentance” how would you respond? What do you think the promises of God regarding “Baptism” and “Repentance” are?

3. Through baptism, God is saying something very specific to us...that Jesus died and was raised to save us from our sins. In this way, we are entirely passive in baptism. We are receiving what God has promised. What do you think about that? How does it affect human pride to hear such a promise from God? Why?

4. Baptism is important because Christ commanded it as a part of the Great Commission. Read Matthew 28:19. What are we commanded to do according to this passage?

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, help me to remember my baptism and to remember your promise of adoption. Help me to remember my promise to love you and to be faithful to you. I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit through baptism and I thank you, Lord, for marking me yours forever. It is in your name I pray. Amen.

Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

This morning we are beginning our church-wide sermon series “Game
Changers.” Over the next seven weeks we will tackle a variety of “real life”
topics that often cause us problems when we follow them according to our
own way. Our goal throughout this series is to search God’s Word and locate
the promises that will provide “game changing” effects to help us live our lives
according to God’s way.

This morning we will look at the promise of “Baptism” and “Repentance.”

1. There are moments in our life that happen to us that are significant, good
or difficult. We call these moments game changers that can change the
direction of our lives. It is in those moments we have a choice...are we
going to navigate these on our own...or are we going to seek the promises
of God that will certainly help and guide us? Think of a time when you
were forced to make a choice based on the promise of God. What choice
did you make and how did it affect your life?

2. If you were asked about the importance of “Baptism” how would you
respond? If you were asked about the importance of “Repentance” how
would you respond? What do you think the promises of God regarding
“Baptism” and “Repentance” are?

3. Through baptism, God is saying something very specific to us...that Jesus
died and was raised to save us from our sins. In this way, we are entirely
passive in baptism. We are receiving what God has promised. What do
you think about that? How does it affect human pride to hear such a
promise from God? Why?

4. Baptism is important because Christ commanded it as a part of the Great
Commission. Read Matthew 28:19. What are we commanded to do
according to this passage?

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, help me to remember my baptism and to remember your
promise of adoption. Help me to remember my promise to love you and to be
faithful to you. I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit through baptism and I
thank you, Lord, for marking me yours forever. It is in your name I pray.
Amen.

Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

Read Matthew 2:1-12.

1. Today is Epiphany Sunday. We often think of “epiphany” to describe an “aha” moment in life. Pastor Mick defined Epiphany in today’s sense to mean “manifestation of God.” The Magi’s epiphany was seeing the manifestation of God in the Christ Child. How was this an “aha” moment for them? What “aha” moments have you had by encountering Christ?

2. Why is important that the Magi describe Jesus as “King of the Jews”?

3. Why was myrrh such a strange gift? What did it foreshadow?

4. Why do you think these non-Jewish pagan astrologers bowed down and worshiped Jesus as soon as they met him? What does that say to us about how we should treat Jesus in our day?

5. Why do you think Pastor Mick focused so much on “seeing the Light”? What are some of the different “lights” or meanings of “light” in this passage?

6. Do you remember when you first “Saw the Light?” What was that like for you? How has life been since then?

7. John tells us that “the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” Hank Williams sings “no more darkness, no more night.” How do you make sense of these statements in a world filled with darkness?

8. The Magi “returned to their country by another route.” After encountering Jesus, they went home a different way. How might this be a metaphor for repentance? What different routes do you need to take this year?

Prayer of the Week:
Gracious and loving God, our light and salvation, be present with us and shine upon us. Teach us to walk as children of the light, to give you our praise and prayers. Just as the magi worshiped the Christ Child and presented him with their finest gifts, may we give ourselves to you in joyous celebration, knowing that all we are and all we have belongs to you. And Lord, we pray for those who, even today, are still living in the darkness of this world rather than living in the light of your love, mercy and grace. We pray that your goodness will shine even in the darkest corners of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture and questions for study and reflection:

1. This morning we complete our sermon series that has allowed us to recognize through the character George Bailey...that this is indeed “A Wonderful Life.” What is your take-away or take-aways from this sermon series? Will it help you make this Christmas season more hopeful? Peaceful? Joyful? Loving? Share your thoughts.

2. At this time of the year, it’s easy to focus on the material world, what we have and what we think we need. Does chasing after worldly wealth ever make anyone truly happy? Read the following Scripture passages and discuss how the apostle Paul speaks about being content: Philippians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 6:7-9 and Hebrews 13:5. Discuss.

3. When was the last time you thanked God for the way in which He has blessed you? Do you believe that God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you? Take a moment and count your blessings.

4. Read John 15:12-14. What does Jesus call us if we do what He commands us? What does He want us to do? How do we obey Him? It’s easy to love those that love us...but, what can we learn about what we have, and what Jesus has done for us? How will this
help us to love others?

5. What (and who) are you most grateful for, this Christmas?

6. How will you find the Lord this Christmas? Will you find Him as a helpless baby, who was born into a poor family, growing up as a carpenter, who mixed with sinners and was nailed to a cross? Pure love...is that who we think God is? Share your feelings.

Prayer of the Week:

God help us to see people through your eyes. Help us to love them as
you love them. Help us to love you with our full heart, mind, soul and
strength. As we go out and share your love, help us shine your Light
for the whole world to see so that you might be glorified. Amen.