missio Dei: Falcon

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: The people gather to confess and pray (Neh. 9:1-5).
2: The people remember God’s faithfulness, their sinfulness (Neh. 9:6-31).
3: The people trust God to help (Neh. 9:32-37).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Reflect for a moment honestly, what is your default view of who God is? What do you tend to think His character must be like? How does this chapter totally upend that understanding?!
• Why do we struggle with the idea of corporate repentance? How could corporate repentance be a help to our church?
• If you were to turn your own history into a prayer what would it sound like?

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: Inner Renewal
2: Light Affliction
3: Looking to the Unseen

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• How is my heart these days?
• What afflictions am I experiencing in this season?
• What do I know about the unseen? What do I believe about the unseen?

Welcome

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Greeting

Sermon: 1 Cor. 15:3-8

missio: Kids: Gospel Science Experiment

Benediction: 1 Cor. 15:54b-57

Intro/Welcome: Isa. 53:3-7
First Candle: Mark 14:32-52
Silence
Second Candle: Mark 14:53-72
Silence
Third Candle: Mark 15:1-15
Silence
Fourth Candle: Mark 15:16-32
Silence
Fifth Candle: Mark 15:33-39
Communion
Christ Candle/Burial: Mark 15:40-47
End: Leave in silence.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
• Has there been a time when God has acted in an unexpected way,
different than your agenda? Why are those times difficult for us?
• Is it difficult for us to be satisfied with the “downward pull” of the
kingdom of God? Why?
• Pray for anyone at your table, for circumstances that they are facing
currently.

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: The work of God (Nehemiah 7:1-5).
2: The people of God (Nehemiah 7:6-73).
3: The Word of God (Nehemiah 8:1-8, 13-18).
4: The Lamb of God (Nehemiah 8:9-12).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What are your Scripture intake habits?
• Have you ever shown the awe and reverence for the Bible that this passage shows (weeping over sin, standing in awe, etc.)? If not, why might that be? 
• How can we cultivate greater reverence for God’s Word?

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: The temptation of distraction (Nehemiah 6:1-4).
2: The temptation of fear (Nehemiah 6:5-9).
3: The temptation of sin (Nehemiah 6:10-14).
4: The temptation of discouragement (Nehemiah 6:15-19).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS PART 1:

• Where has God called you to work for His glory? 
• What are your ministries? 
• Where do you see brokenness that God is leading you to bring healing?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS PART 2:

• What distractions keep you from doing the work God has called you to?
• What means of grace has God used to strengthen your hands for the work?
• What fears keep you from continuing the work God has called you to?

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: The outcry of injustice (Nehemiah 5:1-5).
2: A godly response to injustice (Nehemiah 5:6-13).
3: A godly heart for justice (Nehemiah 5:14-19).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What outcries of injustice exist in our society? What outcries might you struggle to hear because of your background or biases?
• Where has injustice within the church led to damaging our public witness?
• What tangible things is the Spirit calling you to do to work for justice in our world?

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: A life spent serving others.
2: A life spent rejoicing with others.
3: A life spent dying for Christ. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Why is it difficult to serve sacrificially and joyfully?
• What holds you back from serving others?
• Where do you feel Jesus calling you to serve more?

SERMON OUTLINE:
1: Amidst opposition—We pray (Nehemiah 4:1-9).
2: Amidst discouragement—We remember (Nehemiah 4:10-14).
3: Amidst difficulty—We trust (Nehemiah 4:15-23).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What feels heavy in your life right now? How might that heaviness be understood as opposition against God’s mission for your life?
• Are you more tempted to rely on self and forget to pray or are you tempted to quit and forget to work? How does Nehemiah’s example of praying and working encourage you specifically? 
• As you read verse 14, what do you feel most convicted of needing to fight for: Brothers/Sisters in Christ, your children and the next generation, your marriage, or your church? How does remembering God’s greatness and awesomeness fuel that fight?