Jesus 120

This week we kicked off the New Year as Pastor Jake gave a State of the Church update. It was a time of reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the things that God is bringing for GCK in 2019.

We open the new year by exploring the Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashanah. May we all be open to personal reflection and repentance so we can experience times of refreshing in the presence of Jesus.

In today’s sermon, we finish out the year by reflecting on the life that is available to us in Jesus. Using imagery from the Last Supper, we discuss the power of being chosen and blessed by God in the midst of our brokenness, and the resulting gratitude and generosity that can change our lives.

This week we began a short Christmas series by looking at Jesus as our Humble, Hidden, and Heavenly King. We are invited to approach Him this Christmas with the same mindset as the Wisemen of old, bringing our treasure, our prayers, and our eternal hopes to Him in worship!

The Holy Spirit desires to give us gifts for the purpose of touching lives around us with His love. In Romans chapter 12 we see the way God is calling us to use the gifts He gives. He invites us to walk in humility, step up and take responsibility, and choose to be a part of a community that honors diversity while living in unity.

In this weeks sermon we take a look at each of the fruit listed in Galatians chapter 5. We discuss what the fruit look like in our life and how they all work together to form a fruitful and satisfying life in Jesus.

Key Verses: Galatians 5:22-23. Several verses are used to get a feel for each fruit found in this passage. Refer to the sermon notes for full list of the verses discussed.

Life Group Questions:

Take some time to briefly review the sermon, and each of the fruit listed. Then discuss the questions below.

1) What stood out to you the most in the sermon this week? Was there a particular fruit that you learned something knew about, or saw in a new light this week?

2) Viewing this list as a description of God’s character – have you seen an example of Him working in your life in one of these ways?

3) Is there a fruit on this list that has been difficult to see God doing in your life, so it’s hard to believe God has that particular characteristic?

4) Now let’s consider the list as fruit God wants to produce in us. Can you share an example from your life where God has helped grow one of these fruit into your character, where previously you had really struggled?

5) Is there a particular fruit that stood out to you this week as an area of weakness that you would like to see grow in your life? What do you think you can do to grow in that area?

This week as we explore the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23, we see that God desires for us to experience His love in great abundance. The fruit of the Spirit is a description of who God is, a list of benefits he invites me to enjoy, and growth in virtues he wants me to share with others. The purpose of the fruit is to taste God’s goodness, to satisfy our hungry hearts, and to spread the gospel of Jesus to a world in need.

The abiding fruit that Paul describes in Galatians 5 is a beautiful picture of what life in the spirit produces. The fruit of the Spirit offers fulfillment for the deepest longings of the human heart, yet is so often missed by many of us. If we can have ears to hear it, Paul outlines the two basic approaches to life that can so often derail our ability to experience the life and freedom that Jesus intends for us to find in Him.

Key Verses: Galatians chapter 5, Romans 8:5-6, Psalm 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:5-10

Life Group Questions:

1) What are the two pitfalls Paul warns against in Galatians chapter 5? (Justifying ourselves & following our fleshly desires).

2) Do you ever struggle with trying to justify yourself instead of resting in grace? If so, what does that look like for you? How can we avoid this?

3) (Try to be as specific & personal as possible for this section of questions) If Jesus offers freedom from sin, guilt, and shame, why do you think as believers we can still fall into pursuing satisfaction through our fleshly desires? Can you think of ways you try to achieve some of the things on the list of the fruit of the spirit in your own pursuits for happiness? How does this harm you personally? How might that affect others around you?

4) Read Romans 8:5-6. What do you think it means to set our mind on the things of the Spirit? How can you put that into practice in your life?

5) How can developing habits in our life, help us to renew our minds and focus on cultivating a daily relationship with the Holy Spirit? What can you add or be more committed to in your life to help do this? How can you avoid this becoming just a religious ritual or something you feel obligated to, instead of enjoying and looking forward to these healthy habits?

6) Why is resting in Jesus such an important part of experiencing his grace & growing fruit in our lives? Why is this such a contrast to striving to justify ourselves or pursuing our own fleshly desires for happiness? How can we practice resting in Him? Why does this take trust? What can you do this week to practice resting in Him?

At the fall of mankind, our eyes were opened to our nakedness and inadequacies apart from God, but they were also shut to fully behold his incredible glory and goodness. However, like the blind man in John 9, Jesus wants to open our eyes and heal the blindness of our hearts through salvation and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Hosea 6:6 tells us that the Lord desires mercy and not sacrifice, devotion to God rather than burnt offerings.

Key verses: Matthew 5:8, Duet. 29:2-4 and 30:6-10, Luke 18:35-42, John 9:1-34 and 14:23-25

1. In Deuteronomy 29:2-4 and 30:6-10, the Lord tells the Israelites that they have seen the wonders and signs, but they do not understand. What is the new covenant that He makes with the people? As Christ followers, how is our covenant with the Lord similar to this one, and how is it different?

2. What are similarities of the stories in Luke 18:35-42 and John 9:1-34? What are some differences?

3. Hosea 6 tells us that the Lord desires mercy and love not judgement and harshness; how have you seen this demonstrated in your life? Why do you think the children of Israel had such a hard time accepting this?

4. How are the Jews like the blind man in Luke? How are the Gentiles like the one in John?

5. If we are indeed fully covered and forgive, why is it important to follow God’s commands?

6. “An idol is anything we dub more important than Him” what are somethings in your life that have become idols that you may not have even realized? What changes can you make to remove them from their position of importance?

Abide Part 8- Co-operating with the Holy Spirit

The Spirit wants to cultivate a relationship with us, but to grow that relationship with Him, we must be listening to His voice and willing to follow where He leads. There are many times when we are distracted by the normal day to day hustle, or fear, but He has an adventure He wants to take us on right where we are, but are we willing to listen and follow where He leads?

Key Verses: Acts 3:1-12, 19-20, Acts 8:26-40

1. In Acts 3:1-12, Peter and John heal a man that they had passed by everyday for years. What was the first thing that Peter said to him? Why do you think that was important?

2. What lesson can we take from the idea that Jesus must have walked by this man many times? How does that apply to our walk with the Spirit?

3. Where is the credit given? Why? What do they do next?

4. Jake said that cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit means working with him and becoming more like him- He doesn’t bring attention to himself either- He points to the Father and the Son. What does that statement mean to you? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

5. Peter and John not only heal the man, but they also shared the gospel of Jesus with everyone around them. Is this how you approach service in your life? Are you constantly sharing the gospel or are you serving, and hoping your life is witnessing for you?

6. In Acts 8:26-40, How does Phillip respond to the Spirit’s voice? How detailed are the instructions he received? Is this how you have/would respond? Why or why not?

7. How does Phillip start his interaction with the eunuch? What is important about how Philip relates to him?

8. In the final story of Paul and Ananias (Acts 9:10-18), Ananias is afraid of Saul for good reason, but trusts the Spirit’s direction anyway. Has their been a time you were afraid, but listened anyway? A time that you wish you would have?