Northwest Gospel Church - Camas/Washougal

Genesis 5:1-6:8 | Ben Potloff | Still being so early in the Genesis story, we begin to wonder how bad it will get. From the Fall to the murder of Abel and the boasts of Lamech, humanity's story goes from bad to worse. How bad can it get? When will God put a stop to this cycle of sin?

MAIN IDEA

God punishes evil, but provides grace.

OUTLINE

I. Mankind is wicked. (vv. 5:3-27, 6:1-2, 4-5)

II. God is just 'and' gracious (vv. 6:3, 6:6-7, 5:28-32, 6:8)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Our culture says you should “follow your heart” or “trust your gut.” Based on what the Bible teaches about the human heart, is this good advice or bad advice? Why? 

2. Sexual perversion was a result of sin from the beginning and we still see that playing out today. How does the Gospel speak to the sexual sin in our lives and in the world around us? 

3. The Bible reveals God as both just AND gracious. How do we see that in Genesis 6:1-8? 

4. Are you more prone to see God as just or gracious? How does that affect your relationship with Him? Why is it important to have a wholistic view of God as we relate to Him?

Genesis 4:17-26 | Ben Potloff | Now a fugitive, Cain's part in the story is not quite over. The second half of Genesis 4 shows us a bit of the lineage of Cain and what can go wrong when people reject God's design for His creation.

MAIN IDEA

God’s Word proves true.

OUTLINE

I. The curse of sin is passed down from generation to generation (vv. 17-24)

II. Mankind’s sin cannot void God’s purpose and plan (vv. 25-26)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What stood out to you from Sunday’s sermon?

2. What does Genesis 4:17-26 reveal about the human condition? Does the world around us agree with what the Bible reveals about the human condition?

3. God giving Seth to Adam and Eve was Him keeping His Word in Genesis 3:15. In what ways can you “take God at His Word” in your daily Christian life?

4. How is God’s judgment AND mercy seen in Genesis 4:17-26? What does this teach us about God and how we are to relate to Him? How does the gospel impact this?

Genesis 4:1-16 | Ben Potloff | Everything went wrong in Genesis 3, and things continue to go from bad to worse in Genesis 4. Here, we are devastated to see Cain murder Abel and we are filled with hope in light of the news of the one who will come to restore Creation to its original and perfect state.

MAIN IDEA

Sin turns family into fugitives.

OUTLINE

I. Two brothers, two offerings, and two responses (vv. 1-5a)

II. Sin isn’t ruled but rules, and the result is murder (vv. 5b-8) 

III. God offers protection in the midst of punishment (vv. 9-16) 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Coming soon

Psalm 16:1-11 | Ben Potloff | "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." Looking back on Jesus' glorious resurrection, the Apostles remembered words originally penned by King David a thousand years before. God, faithful to his promises, delivered his Anointed One from the power of sin and death.

MAIN IDEA

To know God is to have life. 

OUTLINE

I. People who know God worship God. (vv. 1-4)  

II. People who know God are satisfied in God. (vv. 5-6)

III. People who know God are led by God. (vv. 7-8)

IV. People who know God hope in God. (vv. 9-11)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Coming soon

Psalm 118:1-29 | Ben Potloff | "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" As Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, the crowds joyfully quoted Psalm 118 and recognized Jesus as the long-awaited king of Israel. Jesus came not only as the rightful king but as the one who would lay down his life for his rebellious people.

MAIN IDEA

Lift up your voice, the Lord Saves.

OUTLINE 

I. God loves (vv. 1-4, 29)

II. God saves (vv. 5-18, 25-26)

III. God’s people praise (vv. 19-24, 27-29)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Coming soon

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 | Ben Potloff | Where does the gift come from? Does it come simply from the giver? Is it, more specifically, from someone's wallet or bank account? Or, does the gift come from a place deep in the heart and will of the giver? Here, we see that God loves the giving of those who do it worshipfully and cheerfully.

MAIN IDEA

God’s grace generates generous giving.

OUTLINE

I. God blesses His people when they bless others (vv. 6-7)

II. God blesses His people so they can bless others (vv. 8-11a)

III. God is glorified when His people are generous (vv. 11b-15) 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do you think your friends would describe you in relation to money?

2. What does 2 Corinthians 9:7 show us about what the motivation for giving should be and should not be?

3. How have you seen the principle of “you reap what you sow” play out in your own life in regard to giving and generosity?

4. Giving, according to Paul, is both good for us and promotes God’s glory. How do these two work together?

5. What is one way you want to apply the lessons learned in this series to your life right away?

Mark 12:41-44 | Max Janusch | Does God care about the heart of the giver or just about the amount given? In Mark 12, Jesus draws his disciples' attention to the small offering from one poor widow. This offering, Jesus says, is far greater than the whole sum of all the donations of many rich people. Here, we see that we should give ourselves in our giving.

MAIN IDEA

In your giving, give yourself.

OUTLINE

I. God’s people offer their money as worship to God. (vv. 41-42)

II. The heart of the giver matters more than the amount given. (vv. 43-44)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How does your view of money and giving agree with and/conflict with what the Bible teaches? How does God invite your beliefs to align with his Word?

2. What is a practical way that you can make giving more of an act of worship?

3. On Sunday, Max mentioned several postures we can have in our giving: giving ritualistically, pridefully, out of obligation, out of guilt, begrudgingly, etc. How do we easily fall into this kind of giving posture versus a posture of faith-filled sacrifice?

4. Are there any areas of your life where you struggle to give God your full self? How does giving yourself to God in everything lead to joy and reward and hope?

Malachi 3:6-10 | Ben Potloff | Malachi served as a prophet to God's people as they returned from Exile and rebuilt their way of life. God's people, under the guidance of God's Law, were charged with re-establishing their patterns for worship and holy living, and a critical area was their tithing and relationship with money. So, we ask, "What does the Bible really have to say about giving?"

MAIN IDEA

Don’t rob God, trust Him.

OUTLINE

I. Being closed-handed brings condemnation (vv. 7-10a)

II. Being open-handed brings provision (vv. 6, 10b-12)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What comes into your mind when you think about money?

2. What has been your experience in the Church regarding money, giving, stewardship, etc.?

3. God accused Israel of robbing him in Malachi 3:6-12. Why? How might the church rob God today?

4. What are the things that typically hold you back when it comes to giving, generosity, and being open-handed?

5. How can you apply Malachi 3:10 to your life? 

6. How should the gospel impact our view of money and giving?

Genesis 3:1-24 | Ben Potloff | Over and over, the opening chapters of Genesis show us something being made from nothing, order brought to chaos, life and vitality where there was only a void, God's image bearers ruling over his creation. But, in chapter 3, everything goes wrong; created things misrepresent God, His image bearers rebel against his rule, and Paradise is lost at the foot of the forbidden tree. Now we ask, "Is God done with this world and this people that have rebelled against Him?"

MAIN IDEA

Disobedience leads to death.

OUTLINE

I. Eve was deceived by the serpent and Adam disobeyed God (vv. 1-13)

II. God declared that the consequence for human sin is death (vv. 14-19, 22-24)

III. In the midst of retribution God promised redemption (vv. 15, 20-21)

Genesis 2:18-25 | Ben Potloff | Moses' closer look at the creation of humanity continues as, for the first time, God says that something is "not good." God creates woman from man in a wonderful and glorious act of creation that completes God's initial work of creation and begins human history.

MAIN IDEA

God created woman to complement man in the one flesh union of marriage. 

OUTLINE

I. God created the woman to be the perfect helper to the man (vv. 18-23)

II. God created marriage to be a permanent and exclusive union (vv. 24-25)