Jesus 120

This Sunday we spend some time reflecting on Matthew’s Gospel, and Jesus as the promised King who has come. Throughout Jesus' life, he shows us what his kingdom is like through both his words and actions, and he invites us to participate in this Kingdom. May we discover the beauty of life in the Kingdom of God, as we allow his life to permeate our own!

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the primary themes of Matthew? Why is so much time spent in Matthew connecting Jesus with the OT stories and promises? How is that important to us today?

2. What does it mean to participate in Jesus’ kingdom? How can we learn to follow him and allow him to be our king? What does Matthew 13:34-35 tell us about learning and growing in God’s kingdom?

3. Why are we warned about false kingdoms? What are some examples of modern-day idols (false kingdoms) that we face today? Is there a particular idol that has been a struggle in your life?

4. How is God’s kingdom like leaven? How can we allow His kingdom to permeate our lives? Is there something that needs to change in your life to help his kingdom grow in you?

As we wrap up our time in the Old Testament, we look back to see the significance of the OT scriptures - that they are reliable and authoritative, and they are essential for revealing the character of God and our great need for a Savior. Thank God that through the story of the life of Abraham’s family that became the nation of Israel, we can see God’s ultimate plan of redemption to rescue all who will follow Him. May we all have faith like Abraham and Habakkuk of old - to live a life filled with God’s vision of hope and enjoy a reconciled relationship with Him!

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we trust that the OT is reliable and why does that matter? How can old testament prophecies impact our lives today?

2. Why does it matter that the OT is still relevant to us today and not outdated? Have you ever struggled with that? How does the way Jesus sees the OT affect how we can view it now today?

3. Have you ever struggled with seeing God in the OT as the same God we see in Jesus? If yes, why? Why do you think Jesus was able to see Him differently?

4. What can we learn about our own walk with God as we see Israel’s struggles to be faithful throughout the OT? Is there anything you feel like God is showing you now that He wants to change in your life?

5. What role does faith play in our relationship with Jesus? How does that affect our salvation? How does that affect our daily walk with Him as we persevere and wait for His return? What can we learn from Abraham & Habakkuk’s examples of faith in our own lives?

In this week’s message, we explore the story of Jonah, as he goes through the ups and downs of life as the prophet of God. As we take an honest look at this man and his struggles, may we be open to our struggles with God’s grace, and receive correction and encouragement where it’s needed. Above all may we see the heart of our God who is “gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”

Thanks for joining us this week as we explore the life of Daniel, and see his faithful devotion to God! May you be encouraged and challenged to include prayer and fasting as a regular part of your personal walk with Jesus. Our hope today is that you would learn from Daniel's example, see the biblical needs and reasons for fasting, and receive some practical instruction on how to grow in the area of prayer and fasting.

In this week’s sermon, we explore Ezekiel chapter 34 and Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd of our lives. He wants to warn and protect us from false shepherds, and to encourage us as His sheep not to trample and abuse one another. Instead, if we will learn to recognize His voice, we can faithfully follow Him and learn to help care for His flock, so that we all may find good pasture even in desert places.

This past Sunday we had a "Family Meeting" to discuss important updates on what the next couple of months will look like for our church body. Starting Aug 2, we will meet Online-Only for our Sunday Morning services. It's vital for us to stay connected to Jesus and to each other right now and to navigate this season together.

As we explore Jeremiah’s lament over Jerusalem, it’s important that we realize that mourning is a very real part of the life of God’s people. Thankfully Jesus shows us that we can come to him in our grief, that he bears our burdens and heals our hearts. May we all discover the hope and redemption that we have in Jesus in the midst of even the most sorrowful times.

This week we dive into the book of Jeremiah and discover the powerful connection between Prayer and Purpose. May we all understand the wonderful invitation, and the essential business of our time in prayer, and the unique impact it has on finding purpose and direction in life.

In today’s sermon, we are continuing our mini-series on the Armor of God. As we go through Ephesians 6 today, we see the central role that faith plays, how important it is to have our minds guarded by the security of our salvation, and the power of knowing how to handle God’s Word in the midst of the battles we face. May we all be encouraged to stand our ground, because in the midst of the evil day we can trust in the everlasting victory that Jesus has won for us!

In this Sunday's message, we explore how God’s presence empowers us to be equipped to deal with the inevitable battles we face. This is part one of a two-week series exploring the armor described in Ephesians 6 through the lens of the prophet Isaiah’s beautiful depictions of God’s truth, justice, and the perfect peace that He alone can provide.