Sermon Outline:

In Christ the impossible is possible (John 1:14).4 implications of the impossible becoming possible (John 1:15-18).

Helpful Quotes:

“The Gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” Tim Keller“For the solidarity of mankind is such that, by virtue of the Word's indwelling in a single human body, the corruption which goes with death has lost its power over all. You know how it is when some great king enters a large city and dwells in one of its houses; because of his dwelling in that single house, the whole city is honored, and enemies and robbers cease to molest it. Even so is it with the King of all; He has come into our country and dwelt in one body amidst the many, and in consequence the designs of the enemy against mankind have been foiled and the corruption of death, which formerly held them in its power, has simply ceased to be. For the human race would have perished utterly had not the Lord and Savior of all the Son of God, come among us to put an end to death.” St. Athanasius, 318 AD

Discussion Questions: 

Which aspect of John 1:1-18 (what we’ve studied the past four weeks) stands out as the most encouraging thing for you personally?Why do we typically view grace and truth as existing in opposition? How does Jesus coming full of grace and truth change how you view their relationship?Faithful Christianity embodies many “dichotomies” similar to what John outlines in v. 14. E.g. loving our enemies, finding peace amidst trials, etc. What other dichotomies are we called to embody as Christians? How does God becoming man help us with that?

**This is week four of Advent 2022.

Sermon Outline:

The nature of Jesus (John 1:9).The natural response to Jesus (John 1:10-11).The unnatural grace of Jesus (John 1:12-13).

Discussion Questions: 

Have you ever wondered if you would have chosen to follow Jesus if you lived in the 1st Century? What does this passage do to your opinion of yourself?Read verse 12, what part of this is the most astonishing to you? Why?Verse 9 hints at the fact that people are always looking for “light,” or people to look up to/worship. Where do you see this in our day? Why are we prone to fall for this temptation?

**This is week three of Advent 2022.

Sermon Outline:

The temptation to see God as uninterested and uninvolved  (John 1:6).The temptation to see ourselves as self-sufficient and capable (John 1:7).The temptation to see the world as chiefly about us and our story (John 1:8).

Discussion Questions: 

How often do you honestly feel that God is involved in your life? What does forgetting that fact produce in your heart?When are you most tempted to feel self-reliant? When are you most tempted to see yourself as the center of the universe? How does John the Baptist help us find humility?How can you bear witness about the Light this season? Be specific!

**This is week two of Advent 2022.

Sermon Outline:

We are the furthest thing from God… (John 1:1-3)…but God is no longer the furthest thing from us (John 1:4-5).

Discussion Questions: 

What aspects of the Christmas season personally distract you from Jesus? What plans do you have to keep Jesus first in your heart this Christmas? Do you have an Advent devotional you are going to do? Who will you process it with?Where else, besides Jesus, do you look for life? How is that thing time-bound and finite/limited? How is Jesus better?

**This is week one of Advent 2022.

Sermon Outline:

Why do we sing?What do we sing?Who is our worship leader?

Discussion Questions:

What stuck out to you in the passage or in the sermon today? Was there anything new that stretches you in how you think about singing?In your own words, what does it mean to follow Paul's instruction to "be filled with the Spirit"?Why is singing so important to our spiritual growth? How does recognizing Jesus as our worship leader shape how you worship?

*This sermon was preached by Andy Beams of The Oaks Church in Denver, Colorado.

Sermon Outline

From Hypocrisy to HumilityFrom Works to FaithFrom Death to Life

Table Discussion

Have you ever had a conversation about not walking in line with the truth of the gospel? How did it go?What do you think is your "plus" to the gospel?What does it mean to you that Jesus not only took away your sins, but gave you his righteousness?

**This sermon was preached by Lucas Turner, a former partner of missio Dei: Falcon, currently on mission in Central Texas as a College and Young Adult Minister at a Baptist church.

This is the 40th and final sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

Paul (finally) arrives in Rome (Acts 28:11-14).God continually provides means of encouragement (28:15-16).Paul faithfully continues his mission (Acts 28:17-31).

Helpful Quote:

“Acts provides the foundations of the newborn church through which we hope that the church in ruins will be reborn.”    —Erasmus

Discussion Questions:

If you have been with us throughout our study of Acts, what have you learned? What themes stand out? How has this book encouraged you?Do you ever feel hindered in sharing the Gospel? Read Acts 28:31. How does Paul’s bold proclamation and teaching “without hindrance” (while in prison!) encourage/challenge you?

This is the 39th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Sermon Outline:

The storms of life: Our best plans and most strenuous efforts (27:1-20).The sovereignty of God: His provision and salvation (27:21-44).The mission of God: Using the storms to bring salvation (28:1-10).

Helpful Quote:

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”    —C.S. Lewis

Discussion Questions:

Can you think of a “storm” in your life where you could see after the fact how God used it for your good? How does that change your perception of other storms?Are you more likely to doubt that God has determined your destination, or that He is trustworthy with how you get there? How does this passage speak to you?Do you have an example in your life of how God has used your experience with pain (like Paul’s snakebite) to minister to others?

Helpful Quotes:

In the kingdom, we receive comfort in a very different way than we’re taught to in American culture. We receive comfort not by, on the one hand, whining in our sense of entitlement or, on the other hand, pretending as though we’re happy.  We are comforted when we see our sin, our brokenness, our desperate circumstances, and we grieve, we weep, we cry out for deliverance.  —Russell Moore—

Four Parts of Lament (Mark Vroegop)

Turning to GodBringing your complaintAsking boldlyChoosing to trust 

Until Jesus returns, the world will be marked by tears. Children will continue to be born and their first cry will announce their arrival into a broken world. To cry is human, but to lament is Christian. —Mark Vroegop—

Table Discussion Questions:

Why do you think it is difficult for us to Lament?  What is the big difference between lamenting and complaining? (Hebrews 4:16)What are some harmful things that can happen when we always try to edit our lives (internally or externally) towards the positive? Pray for anyone at your table who is facing a difficult circumstance right now.

This is the 38th sermon in our series Acts: Jesus Builds His Church.

Discussion Questions:

Does it feel to you like God is ruling and reigning over the circumstances of your life? When have you been tempted towards discouragement with the circumstances of your life?  How did God make himself known to you?  How has God used those things in your life? Have you ever made a decision (like Paul appealing to Caesar) that you only realized later was part of God's plan in your life?