Sermon Application

Praise the Lord that He is a God who remains faithful to his covenant people. His steadfast love endures forever and was displayed most clearly in the cross of His Son. He is worthy of all of our thanksgiving and praise!!!

1. What are some examples of God's steadfast love to you?

2. How much does thankfulness mark your everyday life? Are you struggling to be thankful to the Lord in this season? Describe.

3. Does the fact that God knows every aspect of your suffering/trials fuel your thanksgiving or do you find yourself discouraged by this? Do your circumstances have too much of an influence on how and when you praise God?

4. From Psalm 138 (and from the sermon this morning) what is the basis for being thankful to God?

5. Do you see that your thankfulness has a global goal? What is the end/goal of our thanks and praise to God? Would your neighbors say that you are distinguished from unbelievers in your community by your thankfulness or would they say you are more alike them than you are different?

6. Is your life characterized by merely by a system of doctrines/beliefs or is it characterized by a personal relationship with the living God?

Sermon Application

Praise the Lord that He is a God who holds out his arms in love towards His people ready to extend mercy and grace. After briefly discussing the sermon spend some time talking through these questions:

1. What is your typical response when you see someone being showered with God's grace? Is your impulse to rejoice with them, be jealous and envious, other?

2. Think of a time when you felt angry that someone else was receiving the out-pouring of grace that you thought you deserved. How did that affect your relationship with that person? Do you still need to repent of that self-righteousness?

3. From the text of Romans 10:18-21 (and from the sermon) what is God's response to you in your self-righteousness? Is this hard for you to believe? Why/why not?

May God grant that we would walk confident in the only righteousness available to us - the very righteousness of Jesus Christ, which has been gifted to us through faith in his finished work!

Sermon Application Questions

It is very easy in our day to adopt as our own values many of the things the larger culture values. But, as God's people we are to take our cues from His word alone. This morning we considered the question of who it is that God has established to preach and lead when his church gathers. Paul is clear that this role is limited to men. But we also considered the necessity and privilege of valuing, cherishing, and elevating women to do all that the Bible calls them to do in the body. As you discuss the sermon and the questions below begin by asking the Lord for grace and humility to abound in your meeting, that the word of God may be guarded at Immanuel.

1. What are some ways you think you've been discipled by our culture?

2. Do you personally find it difficult to read passage like 1 Tim. 2:11-12? What makes it difficult for you?

3. To the brothers in the group: In this passage Paul says that he does not allow women to teach or exercise authority over a man. However, it is also clear from other parts of Scripture that sisters are called to encourage and/or correct their brothers in other contexts (see Acts 18:26). Brothers, does the idea of being corrected by a sister intimidate you or make you feel threatened? Why/why not? Do you see their counsel/wisdom as valuable and needed? Husbands, are you able to be corrected by your wife? Sisters, do you feel free to encourage and/or correct your brothers? Why/why not?

4. To the whole group: Are these things (from question 3) a regular part of the community life in your GCG? What can you do to begin cultivating this?

May the Lord grant us great unity as we submit ourselves to his word for his glory!

Sermon Application

We heard how one of the goals of the Bible is to tear down man's penchant for excuse making. From Romans 10 we saw how Paul dealt with (one of) the Jews' excuse for not believing the gospel. They were seeking to establish a righteousness of their own.

1. Excuse-making is not only a problem for unbelievers. We, as Christians, often make excuses for our sin which hinders our growth in grace. What area(s) of your life are in need of growth but are being hindered by excuse -making? Are there ways you need to grow in which you find yourself saying "I would but...", "I can't because...", "If only God would....then I'd..."?

2. What have been some of the excuses you've heard when trying to share the gospel with people? When doing evangelism and sharing that Jesus is the only way to the Father people will often deflect the issue by asking about people who have never heard or never able to hear the gospel. What should you say in that situation?

3. How, specifically, have you given in to the idea that people in your context are the hardest people to reach with the gospel? What are some specific excuses you make or have made regarding why you don't share the gospel with people? What are some Biblical passages you could read to help one another have Biblical vision for how he gospel has spread very quickly in a short amount of time?

4. Spend some time praying as a GCG for the Spirit to cause the word of the Lord to speed ahead and be honored in all of your evangelistic efforts. Pray that He would enable us to fight against making excuses when it comes to sharing the gospel. Ask the Lord to cultivate in you the same vision for His kingdom that He has given in His word.