Complementary Old Testament Passage:Isaiah 43:1-15

Sermon Outline:

Faith Flowers into Fellowship

Christ compels us to obey

As you have received, so share

Family Discussion Questions

Who was Philemon and how did he know Paul?

Who was Onesimus and how did he know Paul?

What changes in a person when they trust in Jesus?

Which authorities has God placed in our lives?

What is the best reason to obey Gods commands?

What was Paul asking Philemon to do?

What are things which we ought to do even if no person requires us to do them?

Does simply obeying the laws of the government mean that we have pleased God?

How should this book shape how we respond to counsel and correction from our fellow Christians?

How can we speak of the need to be transformed without thinking that we are saved by transformation?

Sermon Outline:

There are many true churches, yet only one true church

The Old and New Testaments are the rule and unity between the churches

Grace is multi-factor authenticated.

Family Discussion Questions:

Why is it important to remember that the church is Jesus only wife?

Are people who trust in Jesus but go to a different church still Christians?

Why is it important to join a church that obeys and trusts in Jesus?

Explain why it is important to see that the Bible teaches about there being only one true church and yet many true churches? What happens when we miss one of those truths?

Explain why we believe that there will be no more books added to the Bible

How does limiting our belief about God to what the Bible says - encourage true Christian unity?

What is meant by the phrase, many parts of the Bible were written for you even if they were not written to you?

How do we avoid the danger of saying, that was just cultural when we read a portion of the New Testament?

Explain the comfort of a church only promising grace to people in a way that obeys the Bible?

Complimentary Old Testament Passage:Psalm 122Sermon Outline:

The nature of Christian affection

Affection for Faithful Pastors

Affection for faithful brothers and sisters

Family Discussion Questions:

How are Christians supposed to help other Christians follow Jesus?

What is the difference between a pastor and someone who God used to write the Bible?

Why is it good that other Christians know about your life, and that you know about their lives?

Where is Paul writing this letter from?

Which names are surprising to hear in Pauls list? Why?

What are the activities of a faithful pastor?

What are common substitutes for

What are activities Paul notes of a faithful brother or sister in Christ?

Which of these do we struggle to value, and why?

Why did Paul refuse to take Mark with him in his travels? How can we know that Paul was correct?

Why is fallibility an important thing to keep in mind when it comes to Christian fellowship?

Complementary Old Testament Passage:Proverbs 16Sermon Outline:

Use time wisely with those outside the family of God

Your words must always have the intention of blessing others

Be ready to respond to every person

Family Discussion Questions:

Who does the Bible say are in Gods family?

Are people who are in Gods family better than other people?

Why should we be kind to all people, not just Christians?

We do not have forever to become Christians. When will that end?

What is the reason why everyone should trust in Jesus?

What are things which God would agree would be stumbling blocks for sharing about Christ?

Why should our lives be lived with a sense of urgency?

Compare being gracious according to God, versus in the eyes of others.

How could being ungracious lead us to being unable to give an answer to people?

While the Gospel never changes, each person is unique and will require thoughtfulness in our responses. Give examples, and explain why.

How does chapter 3 explain what it means to walk with wisdom? How could a rejection of Chapter 3 lead to unnecessary stumbling blocks for unbelievers?

Family Discussion Questions:

Who should we pray to?

What are things that we can thank God for when we pray?

Who can you pray for that they would trust in Jesus?

Who can you pray for that God would help them tell people about Jesus?

What does it mean to be steadfast in prayer?

Why does prayer require perseverance?

How is thankful prayer a watchful thing?

What are some misunderstandings of the phrase, open a door for the Gospel?

What is a faithful understanding of why we pray that God would open a door for the Gospel?

Given that the Gospel of Christ is revealed in the Old Testament and that many people believed in it before he came, why is it called a mystery?

Verse 4 tells us the true task of evangelism for the believer - which is to make the Gospel clear. Why would we need prayer in order to do this?

Paul notes that he is in prison for the Gospel. Given this, is Pauls prayer request surprising?

What does it teach us about a life which pleases the Lord?

After speaking about the ordinary life which God considers true worship, how does this emphasis on prayer serve as a reminder that the Christian life is also very supernatural?

Complementary Old Testament Scripture Passage:Exodus 6:1-13Sermon Outline:

Seek Freedom

Obey your earthly lords

Work for your Lord in heaven

Earthly lords must be just and fair

Obey your Lord in heaven

Out only comfort in life and in death is to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ

Family Discussion Questions:

What was the punishment for stealing a person to make him a slave in the Bible?

What kind of employees are we supposed to be if we love Jesus?

Why should we be good workers if we love Jesus?

What kind of bosses should we be if we love Jesus?

Why should we be good bosses if we love Jesus?

Every Christian has been purchased by Christs blood. Why is this good?

How did the teaching of scripture eventually bring about the end of the slave-trade?

Given the argument from the greater to the lesser, how should this passage impact how we approach authority and submission in the workplace?

What does the bible say about the following?

Stealing a man to make him a slave?

Owning a man who had been kidnapped?

Returning a runaway slave?

The rights of slaves?

What are ways that people disobey the spirit of this passage while feeling justified because they technically are not slaveowners?

What are ways which we can foolishly become enslaved and limit our ability to help others?

How does history serve as a warning to us about cultures ability to blind us to disobedience to clear teaching in the Bible?

Complementary Old Testament Passage:Proverbs 17

Sermon Outline:1. Gods intentional Gospel design for generations2. Children obey your parents for this pleases the Lord3. Fathers do not provoke your children4. Focus on when they will be oldFamily Discussion Questions:1. Not everyone is Gods child - who is?2. What did Jesus do so that we can be Gods children?3. Why is the relationship between Christians and God like children to a father?4. How does our view of parents and children shape our view of God?5. What are the limits of non-adult children for obedience to their parents?6. How is the parent-child relationship designed by God good for us as training?7. What is the role of parents?8. What would provoking mean?9. What are parents who do not require obedience of children missing?10. How should Gods own parenting of us shape how we parent our children?11. How does the parent child relationship change when children are independent and or married?

Complementary New Testament Passage:Acts 2:22-41Sermon Outline:

A King who will not neglect his Duty

A King exposed to Gods judgment

A King with the enduring Love of the Lord

Family Discussion Questions:

What should David have been doing instead of taking his neighbours wife?

What was special about Bathshebas husband?

How did David try to cover up his sin?

How did David have Uriah killed?

What story did Nathan tell David?

When David finally repented, what did he say?

What special name did God give to Solomon?

How is Jesus different than David?

What does this story tell us about the people whom God saves?

What negative elements from Davids actions provide a warning to us?

What positive elements from Davids actions provide a good example?

What is the main difference between a leaders of Gods people before Christ and after Christ? (Direct vs. Indirect ordination)

How did this story shape how true saints in Israel anticipated the birth of the Messiah?

Complimentary New Testament Passage:Matthew 1:1-17Sermon Outline:

A woman shamed by shameless men

A man shamed by a shameless woman

The Grace of Eves promised Son redeems and transforms

Family Discussion Questions:

Did the family that Jesus came from include only good people?

Is it ok to sin because someone else sinned first?

Have you ever felt ashamed of something that you have done?

Is Jesus embarrassed to call Christians his family?

Some people say that sin shouldnt be embarrassing. Why are they wrong?

What did Jesus do to take away our shame?

What was Judah like before this terrible story with Tamar?

What was Judah like after this story with Tamar?

Why does Matthew include these four women in Jesus genealogy?

What is the purpose of the genealogies in Scripture?

How does the grace of Christ in response to our sin lead us to repentance?

How does this part of the genealogy of Jesus teach us about the reason for the first coming of Christ (advent)?

Complementary New Testament Passage:Hebrews 13:29-31Sermon Title:That Saved a Wretch Like meSermon Outline:

The Son of David was Born to Inherit the Nations

Manmade Religion is Prostitution

Flee the Doomed Kingdom of the World and Hide in the Lamb

Family Discussion Questions:

Who was Rahab?

Who was Rahabs son?

What was different about Rahab compared to the other people of Jericho?

What did she do that showed she trusted in the Lord?

How is Jesus like Joshua, but much much better?

What does the inclusion of Rahab teach us about who is welcomed into the church?

What does it mean that Christ will inherit the nations?

How does the conquest of Canaan teach us about evangelizing?

How does the salvation of Rahab on the day the walls of Jericho fell point backward to the 10th plague? How do they both point forward to the cross of Christ?

How is manmade religion like prostitution?

How do the following passages come together to shape how we are to view the fact that Rahab was a prostitute? Hebrews 2:11 and Hebrews 12:14?