Jesus 120

In week 9 of the series “Startled by Grace” we discuss how God gives us grace to live victoriously! We can often face unwanted battles that can take us by surprise, but God calls us to engage in the battle and trust Him for help and victory.

Key verses: Exodus 17:8-16, Ephesians 6:10-13, 1 John 5:3-4, John 3:14-16

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Moses and God’s people got attacked after they escaped from Egypt. The enemy performed a sneak attack and came when they were faint and weary, and wandering in a desert place. Have you ever felt attacked like that? Why do you think this happens? What’s your typical reaction?

2. Moses called a few of his friends together to make a plan for facing the enemy. Is it your default reaction to ask for help when you are feeling under attack? Why or why not? Why do you think its important for us to ask for help?

3. When Moses came up with a plan for fighting the enemy there were both practical and spiritual parts to his plan. Why is that important? What happens if we neglect one or the other when facing our enemy? (Read Ephesians 6:10-13 for some direction)

4. Why do you think Moses arms had to be raised during battle in order for Israel to win? Why did he need friends to hold up his arms? If God was going to help them win the battle, why did Joshua still have to go out and fight with an army?

5. After the battle was won, God told Moses to make sure to share the reminder of this victory and the promise of future victory with a young Joshua. Why was that important, how does that relate to us?

6. The story ends with Moses making a memorial calling God our Banner or Standard. What is the significance of this? How does it relate to Jesus our savior? (See teaching notes for explanation on “banner” or “standard” if needed)

There are times in life when grace is immediate and obvious, but there are also times when difficulties seem to last longer than we think we can endure. God’s grace allows us to make it through those difficulties, but it is up to us to pray His word in the Spirit in order to gain strength and maturity in our faith.

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

Key verses: 2 Kings 5:1-14, Luke 18:1-8, Matthew 7:7-8, James 5:7, 1 John 5:14-15, Romans 8:26-27, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17-18

1) Who was Naaman? What was he enduring in his life? How do we know that he was still experiencing God’s grace?

2) Have you had a time in your life when you felt that maybe you were unseen by God? When and why?

3) Why is it important to know who God is before tragedy strikes? Have you ever seen evidence of that in your own life or in someone around you?

4) Naaman gets upset with the way that Elisha deals with him, and thinks that he should have been dealt with in a different way. Have you ever received grace from God, but you were hung up on the delivery and unable to take advantage of it?

5) Naaman had to dip in the Jordan River 7 times. Why do you think God/Elisha asked him to do that? Why not just once? What lesson can we get from this?

6) “Two keys to endurance are persistence and patience.” What do those words mean and why do they lead to endurance? Can you still have endurance with only one?

7) 1 John 5:14 says the we have confidence to ask according to His will and He will hear us. Do you approach your prayers and requests with confidence? Why or why not?

8) Why is “praying the Word” so important? How can prayer without the foundation of the Bible be dangerous?

9) Can you think of a time that your parents allowed you to endure a difficult time for your own good? How does that idea translate to the way that God allows us to grow and mature?

In week 6 of the series “Startled by Grace” we heard a powerful story from our dear friends Grant and Christina Marshall. They did an incredible job sharing how the Lord brought them comfort and joy in the midst of hardship and loss. We hope you are encouraged by this story of God’s Grace!

Key verses: Numbers 6:24-26

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. What stood out the most to you from Grant & Christina’s story on Sunday?

2. What does it mean to trust God even when the mountain we want Him to move doesn’t? How has that looked in your life?

3. Is there a time in your life that something terrible has happened, but you can now see how God’s grace was with you through it? Have you been able to look back and see how God was preparing you for that difficult time in advance?

4. How has God used other people in your life to show his grace during a hard season? Why was that so important?

5. Grant & Christina spoke of Joy & Comfort in the midst of the difficulty. Have you experienced that before in a hard season? How does God do that, and how can we recognize it?

In week 5 of the series “Startled by Grace” we discuss living in and enjoying daily grace. Being startled by grace is waking up everyday to the good news that God’s never-ending grace offers us. He wants to join us on our journeys and provide grace, but it often (always) requires us to step out in faith.

Key verses: 1 Kings chapter 17, Matthew 27:46, and Psalm chapter 22

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. God provided for Elijah in his difficult circumstance, but that did not mean he changed the circumstance. When in your life have you seen God provide for you in a difficult circumstance even though the circumstance maybe didn’t get better?

2. How do we play a part in receiving God’s grace?

3. Elijah had to leave the brook because it dried up. When in your life has God forced you (or gently nudged) you to a change in you life to prevent you from becoming stagnant? In hindsight, how was it the right thing? Did it feel right at the time?

4. Because Elijah trusted God and went to the widow, she and her household were provided for. Have you been a part of a time that God used someone to provide for someone else with His grace?

5. Why is it so difficult to call our “mess” a mess and cry out to God? Why does He want us to do that?

6. Has their been a time in your life when you had to really cry out for God’s grace? How did He respond?

As we continue in our series “Startled by Grace” we will have several members of our church family share their personal stories of grace. This week our friend Manuel Bento shared about God’s love and grace in his personal life in Mozambique, and through the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. We hope you are encouraged by this story of God’s Grace!

Key verses: Luke 19:1-10

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Who was able to hear Manuel’s testimony at church yesterday? What stood out to you from Manuel’s story? Why is it important to hear each other’s stories?

2. Manuel talked about the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus too. He mentioned that Jesus took time to stop and see the one person along his way who was in need. Why is that important, and how can we as busy people practice this in our daily lives? Can you think of a time when someone did this for you? Or a time when you stopped to see “the one” in front of you?

3. We also learned about how Jesus was mostly silent in this story, and was willing to just be present with Zacchaeus, and yet he had a huge impact Zacchaeus’ life. How can we practice this in our own lives when loving on people around us?

4. Manuel talked about feeling out of place at times in Knoxville after spending most of his life and ministry in Mozambique. He then talked about the importance of recognizing you have a gift and calling to use for Jesus right where you are. Can you relate to feeling out of place? Do you recognize some gifts or abilities in your life that God may be calling you to use where you are right now?

5. In light of hearing Manuel’s story & recognizing the importance of hearing each other’s testimonies, would anyone like to take 5 minutes and share some of their story tonight?

In week three of the series “Startled by Grace” we look at how God’s grace brings us resurrection life in Christ. He invites us to worship Him and enter into the adventure of life with Him, and when we receive that gift of life, we are able to pour His grace out to others.

Key verses: Genesis chapters 8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:16-20

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. What does it mean to you to rest in the resurrection power of Jesus? What does that look like?

2. Reflecting on Gen. 8:18-20, what are some sacrifices you have made in your life for a loved one or for your future? How does your sacrifice compare to the sacrifice Jesus made for you?

3. Noah and his family were put into a whole new world. Do you feel like you entered a whole new world when you received the grace of God? Why or why not?

4. How should God’s grace show up in our relationships with other people? Is there room for us to judge others or be harsh if we are under His grace? Why then does that still happen? How do we combat it?

5. Without using names, what are some ways we can show grace practically to people (or organizations) around us?

In week two of the series “Startled by Grace” we explore the importance of having a full picture of the gospel of grace, and the massive role that humility plays in experiencing the grace of God in our lives. While it is tempting to only think about the joy and peace that comes with the gift of grace, it is important to remember the real impact that sin and death have. If we can keep these real and damaging consequences in mind, we can fully share the depth of the importance of the gift of grace, and how it should be a part of our daily walk.

Key verses: Ephesians 2:8, James 4:6-10, Genesis 6:14, Psalm 69

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Have you ever considered which gospel you ascribe to? Which might be the most tempting to you? What do you see as the danger in the different ones? (Social-justice, transactional, and consumer)

2. Why are people tempted to water down the gospel? Without naming names, have you seen any of these different gospels in real life? What are the results?

3. Why are we so angered by God’s judgment of people? Can you see how humans are not in a position to judge other humans? Why or why not?

4. “Only when we see the depth of our sin will we be electrified by the wonder of grace.” What does this statement mean to you?

5. Have you seen the result of sin in someone you know/love? How does that influence the way you think about God’s judgment of sin?

6. Why does it require humility to experience the wonderful grace of God?

7. How is God’s judgment like water? How is His grace like water?

Week one of the series “Startled by Grace” is a reminder of the overwhelming compassion and love that our creator has for us, and through a familiar story, we see the first demonstration of God’s grace in Scripture. Often we are so quick to become numb to the most awe-inspiring things around us: the mountains, a sunset, and the face of a child. Just as we can become calloused to those incredible things, if we aren’t careful, we can also forget how incredibly awesome the grace of God is.

Key verses: Genesis 6, Matthew 7:24-27, Hebrews 11:6-7, Ephesians 2:8-10

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Often when we think of the story of the flood, we think of God as being angry and casting a harsh judgment. Read Genesis 6:6. What emotion does God have for man? How can this influence the way you think of how God sees you in your sin?

2. Noah was in the middle of the chaos and violence, and God walked with Him. Why is it so easy to think that God has forgotten us in the midst of a flood? How can we remind ourselves that grace is present?

3. Can you think of a time in your own life that God’s grace was present and speaking, but you had to participate? Did you? How did it impact your life?

4. Have you had a flood in your life that you created, but that you became better from? How do people have to think or change their mindsets to learn from a flood instead of drowning in it?

5. What about a flood you haven’t created? Is is easier or harder to learn from the flood of our own creation or of circumstance? Why?

6. “Faith believes in this grace and participates with it” what does that statement mean to you in your day-to-day life?

7. If you were Noah, how would you have handled God’s instructions?

Entering the Holy Week, we discussed the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree on his way into Jerusalem. At first glance, this story seems odd and unrelated to our everyday lives. However, upon further investigation, we can see (as we always do) that He is teaching us even in this interaction how we are to be engaged and active in our own lives to bear fruit.

Key verses: Mark 11:11-17, 20-21, 2 Timothy 4:2, Proverbs 13:12, 11:30, Rev. 22:1-3, Jeremiah 17: 5-8, and Psalm 1:1-3

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. What was Jesus expecting from the tree and why did He curse it? What happened to the tree?

2. How is the condition of the temple and the people welcoming Jesus on Palm Sunday a mirror of the fig tree? (What similarities can we see?)

3. How does the modern church compare to the temple? What practical things can you think would change it for the better? (Note we are not talking about any specific church, just the church as an organization).

4. Why are we called to bear fruit in and out of season? Who is our fruit meant for?

5. The natural inclination when we are told to produce fruit is to try to do more, but what do we see in Jeremiah 17:5-8? Who is blessed in these verses?

6. From these verses, how do we see that God meets all the needs of our spiritual trees?

7. What is the practical advice we get from David in Psalm 1:1-3? How does the advice from these verses equip us to be able to pass along fruit to those to who need it?

Concluding our series “Just Give,” we are reminded that Jesus calls us to give Him our talents, so we can learn to love and serve others with them. We are often tempted to think that we are insufficient and don’t have what it takes, but Jesus reminds us that all we need is willingness, and he will fill in the places we may think are lacking.

Key verses: Matthew 4:17-20, Luke 5:1-11, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11

Read the key verses and discuss the following questions:

1. Have you ever been hesitant to use your talents to serve? If so, what held you back? Did you ever feel insufficient?

2. Have you really considered the idea that when you say (or feel) like you are not enough that you are telling God that His creation isn’t good enough or qualified or equipped enough? How does that change your attitude towards service and your unique gifts and abilities?

3. How does God change us? How do we participate in the change? (obey and repent as needed)

4. Can you think of a time in your life that failure led to growth?

5. Think about this statement regarding the importance of having both Courage and Humility when using our talents to serve in God’s Kingdom: "Courage without humility leads to pride, and humility without courage leads to cowardice.” How do courage and humility work together to help us grow? Do we really need both in order to grow and change?

6. If we wait till we feel fully qualified to start using our talents for God, then “One day can be the enemy of today.” What do you think of that statement? How has that been true in your life?

7. Review the notes from page 3 of the sermon regarding Identifying, Focusing, and Stewarding our Talents. What area do you most need to consider right now? Do you have a good handle on what your talents are? Do you feel you have good direction of where to focus them? How can you prioritize your efforts toward the right thing at the right time?

7. In light of Jesus call to follow Him, be changed by Him, and be on mission with him, what is one action step you feel he may be calling you to take?