Jesus 120

This week we explore the Power of Grace as we dive into Paul’s letters to the Galatian and Ephesian churches. All that Jesus is calling us into and longs fur us to enjoy are possible because of His Grace. God’s Grace is directly accessed through a personal relationship with Him. His very presence in our lives brings Grace that empowers us to be free, to grow and be fruitful, and to walk in victory. Let’s not settle for anything less than Amazing Grace!

This Sunday we are exploring the power of living in Christian Community. In our churches today it has become common to love the idea of being in “real relationship" and yet we hold each other at arm's length, approach relationships from a selfish mindset, or walk away as soon as things get tough. Paul offers us an alternative perspective in his letters to the Corinthian church. He contends that we are too easily influenced by the culture around us and our own immaturity and that living as ministers of reconciliation is the pathway to healthy relationships and our own spiritual growth as followers of Jesus.

Life Group Questions:

1) Why is Christian Community so important in our lives?

2) How has it helped you to grow in your walk with Jesus? Are there ways that it has hurt you or been difficult along the way?

3) How does living in a community help us grow in maturity? How can we have a clear perspective on where we really are in our spiritual maturity?

4) Did Jesus highlight anything specific to you from the “personal reflection” questions at the end of the sermon (they are listed below)? What is one action step you can take to address that?

- Does your faith ever contradict or correct your behavior, views, politics, or priorities?

One way to discover how much hold cultural idols are shaping you, consider: What keeps you from engaging your life in church community? (For example, do you consistently attend on Sundays, are you committed to involvement in a life group, and more specifically the lives of the people you know there, are you sacrificially serving & giving)

-When you think of your Church community, and consider those relationships - are you focused more on what you are (or aren’t) getting out of it, or what you are putting into it?

-What if the health of your church relied on your effort, involvement, and care for others?

This week we explore the ever-important topic of God’s Love. It’s so essential for the church today to define love the way God does, and then to grow and mature into the people of love God is calling us to be. The health of the church; and the hope of a world in need are at stake, so let’s purpose to love God and love people as Jesus taught us!

Discussion Questions

1) What stood out to you the most this week from the Bible reading or Sunday’s sermon?

2) Why is growing in love so important in our walk with Jesus? Why do we need to love God and love people in order to grow in love?

3) How can we put into practice getting to know Jesus and his love better? Are there any obstacles keeping you from this right now?

4) Why is it so important to make sure we are defining love the way God defines it?

5) How can we put into practice loving others better? What are some of the challenges you face right now in loving others well?

6) What is the Holy Spirit’s role in helping us to grow in love? What practical step can you take today to grow into more maturity in your walk of love?

This Sunday we started a series that will last several weeks as we begin to read through the NT letters to the church. There is a huge need in our day for the church to rediscover the power of God in our midst. This week as we work through Paul’s letter to the Romans, we explore the power of the gospel - how we have gotten off track, and how we ought to respond to God and see hope come to a world in desperate need.

Discussion Questions:

1. What stood out to you from last week’s reading in Romans? Any thoughts to share or any questions?

2. What stood out to you from the sermon this week? Any thoughts or questions?

3. In Romans 1:18-32 Paul is describing a culture that has rejected God, and what that produces. Looking at that passage what ways have the church in America allowed the broken culture around us to permeate the church? What should the church’s response be to the culture around us?

4. In Romans 2, Paul goes on to highlight the issue of God’s people judging others, being hypocrites, and settling for outward religion instead of a real genuine relationship with God. Has the church in America struggled with these? If so, what have the effects been on the church and the world around us?

5. How does the gospel offer hope for the church? What does the culture around us need in order to experience real hope and change? What can we do personally to see the power of the gospel have more of an impact on our generation? (See: Romans 2:4 & Romans 5:1-5)

6. Consider Romans 5:1-5, then discuss: Why is it so important to have faith that can endure in suffering? What can that faith do in our own lives to help us in hard times? How can that help us be carriers of the gospel to a world in need?

7. Take some time of reflection - share only if you feel comfortable: Is there anything Jesus is showing you from this sermon that needs to adjust in your life? Maybe a place where you have allowed the culture to influence you too much, or perhaps you are struggling with judging others or one of the other warnings from Romans 2.

This week as we explore the second half of the book of Acts, we have a lot to learn from Paul and how he used his platform to spread the message of Jesus' Kingdom. Whether in the voting booth, interacting on social media, or just in private conversations, our political stance should always be dictated by our allegiance to our eternal King. May we all learn to use our voice and influence to focus on faithfully living and sharing the Good News of Jesus our Lord!

This Sunday we begin the book of Acts and spend some time exploring the essential role that the Holy Spirit has in our lives. May we all be bold enough to step into new territory, experiencing the power and presence of God’s Kingdom in our lives, and choosing to share that life with a world in need.

Today we explore a couple of stories found in John’s Gospel and see the powerful role that faith plays to bring healing and growth in our lives. Through moments of crisis - like suffering, loss, doubt, and failure - Jesus works to produce grace and peace in our hearts. May we experience Jesus as our anchor in the various seasons of this life, and may we grow in faith to receive life and healing in Him!

Discussion Questions:

1. Which of the 3 examples of faith today spoke the most to you? Have you been experiencing one of these recently?

2. What can we learn from Martha’s example to help us navigate suffering and loss in faith? Why do you think “even now” type faith is so precious to Jesus?

3. What can we learn from Thomas about dealing with doubt? How can we have our own experience “handling” Jesus and seeing his wounds and his victory that can help us grow in faith and hold on in seasons of doubt? What role to do other Christians have in our lives in these seasons of doubt? How can God’s word be an anchor for us in times of doubt?

4. What can we learn from Peter’s story of failure to help us navigate our own seasons of failure? What did Jesus reveal about his heart towards us, when we fail? What’s an example of a specific act of faith that it takes on our part to help heal us when we have failed? (examples: coming to Jesus - not hiding / receiving forgiveness - not wallowing in condemnation)

5. What sort of experience are you going through now that may be an opportunity to grow in faith? Where do you need some grace right now? Where do you need some peace? How can we pray for each other and support each other right now in faith?

Today we are joined by Pastor Dave Buehring, who shares Part-2 of his sermon in the Gospel of Luke on the Kingdom of Heaven.

This week we welcome our friend and mentor, Pastor Dave Buehring, from Franklin, TN, to share a 2-part series from the Gospel of Luke. This week, Pastor Dave shares from Luke 4 on the temptation of Jesus. We will look closer at the temptations and their context, and how we might walk in freedom from the threats of temptations from the enemy, just like Jesus.

In today’s sermon, we explore the story found in Mark 5:1-20 of Jesus freeing a man with an unclean spirit. It is a strange and unsettling story of a deranged man, a multitude of demons, and a large herd of pigs who are drowned in the sea. Yet in the midst of this dis-orienting story, we can discover much about the forces of power that we still encounter in our day. May God give us clarity and hope as we explore the presence and power of fear and evil, and the greater power of Grace that is available to help set the captives free!

Discussion Questions:

1. What encouraged you the most from this story? What challenged you the most? Do you agree that there are still modern-day forms of spiritual bondage that we face?

2. Why do you think that people at times minimize or ignore the existence of the spiritual world? Why is it important to recognize the presence and power of this kind of evil?

3. When facing a struggle in your life with some form of bondage - have you experienced being held back by any of the fears addressed in this message? (fear of change, fear of loss, fear of God) If yes, which one?

4. Why do you think that particular fear is a challenge for you? How can you face and overcome that fear? What role does Jesus play in helping us with our fear?

5. What did you learn from this story about the power of grace? What are some of the obstacles that keep us from experiencing God’s grace in the midst of our struggles? What can we do about that? What can Jesus do about that for us?