The Dwelling Church

Scripture:

Luke 15

Discussion:

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

Psalm 91

Matthew 11:28-30

Psalm 127

Discussion:

1. What does the “unhurried life” look like?

2. How is the “unhurried life” different from laziness?

3. In what areas are you feeling crushed right now? What is your first step to getting in the yoke with Jesus? (Matt. 11:28-30)

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:3

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” - Ephesians 2:1-7

“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me. “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.
“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.” - Genesis 32:22-30 NLT

Discussion:

1. What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”?

2. Why is humility an essential part of walking in our identity in Christ?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

“And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:22

“…Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…” - 1 Cor. 6:19

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” - Matthew 9:36

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

Main Points:

1. We make room for God.

2. We make room for people.

3. We make room for more.

“Everything Jesus modeled for us, the Holy Spirit empowers in us.”

“The Father is looking for a house He can put His name on. We will be that house.”

Discussion:

1. What practical step are you going to take to make room for God’s relational presence in your life?

2. Who is the Father calling you to pour your life into? Who will you ask to pour into you and disciple you?

3. What is your next step of obedience when it comes to serving in God’s family?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. - John 15:1-8

Discussion:

1. What does it mean to abide?

2. What are some practical ways you stay connected?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

Genesis 22

Discussion:

1. What essentially is worship?

2. How has worship impacted your life?

3. What does worship look like on a daily basis for you?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

Discussion: (It’s TESTIMONY time!)

1. How has Jesus been “the way” for you?

2. How has Jesus been “the truth” for you?

3. How has Jesus been “the life” for you?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.” - Matthew‬ ‭4:1-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” - Matthew‬ ‭16:22-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians‬ ‭2:5-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” - Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Discussion:

1. Why is death to self necessary to walk with Jesus?

2. What is the difference between self-denial and self-loathing? What is a healthy way to approach this?

3. Consider the following quote from Sunday’s message. Do you agree? Why or why not?

   • “It’s not evil to want to be seen and heard. It’s called being human. 

     But it’s pride and arrogance when I demand it.

     And it’s idolatry when I try to find it in anything or anyone else but Him.”

      

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” - Joshua 1:8-9

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” - Psalm 1:1-2

Discussion:

1. What is biblical meditation?

2. How does scripture memory help us combat the enemy’s lies?

3. Where will you begin in your scripture memory journey?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.

Scripture:

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. - Genesis 2:2-3

Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.' - Mark 2:27-28

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. - Exodus 20:11

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

Discussion:

1. Sabbath was the Father’s idea. What does that reveal about Him?

2. What are your obstacles to fully experiencing Sabbath as a gift?

3. What steps are you going to take to pursue Sabbath as a regular rhythm?

Take some time in your community today to pray together.