Title: Kingdom Happiness: Those Who Mourn

Preaching Point: Kingdom happiness belongs to people who grieve over their sin and turn to Jesus for forgiveness; they will be comforted.

Main Text: Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Teaching Points:

1. Allow Mourning to Lead You to Repentance v4

2. Rejoice in Your Renewed Position v4

3. Anticipate Comforting & Encouragement v4

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found helpful from this week’s sermon? Why?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 7:10–11. Although paradoxical, how does mourning that leads to repentance actually bring happiness in God’s economy? How has godly grief leading to repentance brought happiness in your life?

3. Read Romans 8:31–39. Why is a regular reminder of your renewed position in Christ, like the one found in this passage, pivotal to living a healthy Christian life and experiencing genuine Kingdom happiness?

4. Read Revelation 7:17 & Isaiah 25:8–9. Why is remembering our eschatological comfort (comfort associated with the return and reign of Christ) so important? Express some of the comfort you can expect knowing you are free from the wrath of God and a resident of His Kingdom?

5. Read John 14:15–18 & John 14:25–27. Along with other New Testament scriptures about the Holy Spirit, describe what comfort the Holy Spirit provides believers.

6. 2 Corinthians 1:3–5. How does this scripture explain the connection between God's comfort for His people and the community of believers comforting one another?

a. Why is being a comfort for other believers not an option but an expectation?

b. How can you be a comfort to someone in our church this month?

7. Colossians 4:7–8 & Acts 2:44–47. Why is regular involvement in the local church a prerequisite to much of the Kingdom comfort God promises us on this side of eternity?

a. In what areas can you improve your involvement in God’s church?

compasshillcountry.org

Title: Kingdom Happiness - Poor in Spirit       

Preaching Point: Kingdom happiness belongs to those who own up to their spiritual poverty and give themselves over to the riches of Christ.

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

Teaching Points:

1. Expect Kingdom Happiness v3
2. Admit Your Spiritual Bankruptcy v3
3. Set Your Mind on the Kingdom of Heaven v3

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?
2. Read Psalm 144:15 & Proverbs 16:19–20. Happiness in God’s economy looks quite different than its worldly counterpart. That being said, how should your thought life change when you consider God’s desire for his children to have genuine happiness in their new spiritual status in the Kingdom of Heaven?
3. How can your hyperfocus on happiness derived from circumstantial situations hinder the genuine happiness God desires for every Christian?
4. Read Isaiah 61:1–2. These people knew the bad news of their desperate situation and gladly looked forward to the freedom that would eventually be fulfilled through Jesus. In the same way, why is a sincere announcement of the bad news of everyone's destitute position before God necessary to effectively guide lost souls to gladly look to Jesus as the answer to their spiritual poverty?
5. Read Ephesians 2:4–5. How does the lie of self-sufficiency hinder someone’s ability to see their great need for God?
6. A). How does this same lie hinder your ability to look to God, except perhaps in times of great distress?
7. Read Matthew 6:19–21 & 1 Timothy 6:17–19. What does a person’s life look like that has their mind focused on the Kingdom of Heaven?
8. What are a few things you can do this week to help you shift your focus away from the world and toward the Kingdom of Heaven and the happiness it promises?

compasshillcountry.org

Title: Trials & Triumph: The Miracles & the Message       

Preaching Point: The power of Jesus revealed through His miraculous acts ought to be sufficient proof for us to fully trust the authority of His message.

Main Text: Matthew 4:23–5:2

Teaching Points:

1. Make Jesus’ Message the Main Thing (v23a)

2. Make Jesus’ Miracles About His Message (v23b-24)

3. Sit Under Trusted Biblical Teaching (vv4:25-5:2)

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Mark 1:35–39 & Matthew 28:18-20. Why is anchoring your life around the good news of the Kingdom vital to staying focused on God amid our chaotic world?

a. What can you do to strategically keep your focus on the message of Jesus in spite of distractions, even within mainstream Christianity and beyond? 

3. Read Matthew 4:23–5:1 & John 20:30–31. What was the purpose of Jesus’ miracles?

a. How did miraculous signs authenticate the message of Jesus?

b. Why was proving his Messianic credentials important for His message and His mission?

c. How can a better understanding of Jesus’ use of miracles help you keep his message the central aspect of Jesus’ mission?

4. Read Revelation 21:4–5. How are you encouraged when you realize that Jesus’ miracles were a small sample of the glory that will be fully revealed at the consummation of the Kingdom of God?

5. Read Acts 2:42 & 2 Timothy 4:1–5. Why is sitting under trusted biblical teaching an important part of following Jesus?

a. What are the benefits of choosing a home church based primarily on the church’s quality of teaching?

compasshillcountry.org

Preaching Points: Followers of Jesus leave their old lives behind and take on the role of a disciple who makes disciples.

Main Text: Matthew 4:18–22

Teaching Points:

1. Get to Know Jesus (vv18, 21)

2. Reject Ambiguous Definitions of Discipleship (vv19, 21b)

3. Characterize Your Discipleship with Immediacy (vv20, 22)

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Matthew 7:21–23, 1 John 2:4-6 and Jeremiah 9:23-24. How can someone mistakenly claim to follow Jesus but fail at knowing him?

a. What can you do this week to know Jesus more?

3. Read Colossians 1:28-29 and 2 Timothy 2:1–7. Using these passages with others you have found, biblically define the role of a disciple (stick with scripture and you’ll do great).

a. How does your definition compare and contrast with some common misconception of what following Jesus entails?

4. Read Ephesians 5:15-17, and Psalm 119:60. Why is immediacy important as a disciple of Jesus?

5. How do the examples of Andrew, Peter, James and John in Matthew 4:18-22 instruct and motivate you on the proper attitudes of anyone who desires to follow Jesus?

compasshillcountry.org

Main Text: Matthew 4:12–17

Preaching Point: Jesus came to conquer the depths of human depravity to give light & life to everyone who turns from their sin & trusts in Him for salvation.

Teaching Points:

1. Grasp the Depths of Your Depravity vv12-16a

2. Behold the Answer to Your Depravity v16b

3. Repent and Trust in Jesus v17

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Romans 3:10–18. Why is grasping the depth of your own depravity fundamental to understanding your need for a savior?

a. Look up some synonyms for the word “Depravity” and write them down.

b. How do those words describe life before you were saved?

c. For Christians, how do these words effectively describe the desires still present in your flesh that are contrary to God’s character?

3. Read Matthew 4:15–16 and Romans 3:23–26. In what ways do you see the darkness of your sinful nature contrast with the light of Christ and His perfect nature? Give examples.

a. What do the contrasts between you and Jesus do to help you recognize Jesus as the perfect substitute for your depravity?

4. Read Matthew 4:17. What is the fundamental message of Jesus' preaching at the beginning of His ministry in Matthew 4?

5. Read Luke 24:46–47. What is the fundamental message of Jesus' preaching at the end of His ministry in Luke 24?

a. How does seeing that Jesus’ message never changed throughout His life grow your confidence in the purpose of Jesus’ ministry and in your stewardship to share that message with others?

Preaching Point: Correctly defining the earthly mission of Jesus is crucial for us to comprehend His assignment to conquer Satan and the power of sin in our lives.

Main Text: Matthew 4:1–11

Teaching Points:

1. Trust God Over Your Feelings vv1-4

2. Don’t Abuse God’s Word vv5-7

3. Submit to God in All Things vv8-11

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Matthew 4:1–4 & Psalm 119:9–16. How did Jesus, despite significant fleshly weakness, keep his focus on God’s will?

a. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. How does Christ's example of conquering temptation teach Christians, who are, by God's grace in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to focus on God's will in moments of great temptation?

3. Read 2 Timothy 2:15 & Matthew 4:5–7. How did Satan abuse scripture to fit his own narrative?

a. How did Jesus respond in Matthew 4:5–7?

b. What can you do to ensure that your use of scripture is aligned with God’s will and not your own narrative?

4. Read James 4:7-8 & Romans 10:1–3. What does submitting to God look like?

a. How does submitting to God and His word become both a protection and a guide against the schemes of Satan and your own sinful proclivities? 

5. Read Matthew 4:8–11 & Revelation 11:15. How did Jesus model that “the right things in the wrong order are still wrong?”

a. Where in your life are you in danger of putting the right things in the wrong order?

Title: Preparing for Jesus: The Revelation

Preaching Point: Jesus unashamedly associating himself with our sinfulness ought to motivate us to boldly associate with Jesus and His mission to see the lost saved.

Main Text: Matthew 3:13–17

Teaching Points:

1. Grasp the Significance of Jesus Associating with Your Sinfulness (vv13-16a).

2. Participate in the Mission of Our Triune God (vv16-17).

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Philippians 2:3–8 & Isaiah 53:12. What does God sending his Son to associate Himself with the sinfulness of humanity say about God’s compassion for the lost?

3. Read Romans 8:1–4. How does the Incarnation of the Son show the seriousness and power of sin?

4. Read John 15:26 & Matthew 28:18–20. What does this week’s sermon and these verses do to highlight God’s desire for his children to participate in the same mission as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

a. How does the amount of attention that our Triune God gives to the salvation of souls force us to reconsider how we manage our time regarding reaching people for Christ?

5. Read Acts 10:37-38, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2 & Matthew 28:19. How do these verses help make you aware that our one God exists in three persons, and all three persons are involved in the life of believers?

a. Why is this awareness important for your faith, specifically in how you relate to the Trinity?

Preaching Point: The work of the Holy Spirit that Jesus inaugurates not only frees you from the coming wrath of God but also empowers you to bear the necessary fruit that flows from genuine repentance.

Main Text: Matthew 3:7–12 

Teaching Points:

1. Expect God’s Coming Judgment vv7,12

2. Understand the Work of the Holy Spirit v11

3. Bear Good Fruit as a Necessary Byproduct of Your Faith vv8-10

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Luke 3:16–18 & 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. Why is focusing on both the positive (for believers) and punitive (for unbelievers) components of God’s coming judgment vital if you want a clear understanding of the judgment to come?

a. How is your faith encouraged when considering the positive elements connected to God’s coming judgment?

b. How are you both alarmed & encouraged to share the good news of Christ when you consider the punitive elements of God’s coming judgment and the blessings people forfeit by denying Christ?

3. Read Ephesians 1:7–14 & Romans 8:7–9. How do these scriptures help you define the Holy Spirit’s role in salvation?

4. Read Titus 3:4–8 & Galatians 5:16-26. How do these passages help you understand how the Holy Spirit’s work in your life empowers you to bear good fruit?

Title: Preparing for Jesus: The Herald       

Preaching Point: Much like John the Baptist in his day, our mission is to proclaim the coming of Jesus, calling everyone to a biblical response to the gospel.

1. Herald the Return of Jesus vv 1-2

2. Associate Yourself with Jesus vv 3-4

3. Invite People to Rightly Response to Jesus vv 5-6

Application Questions:

1. What is one observation you found helpful from this week’s sermon?

2. Read Acts 1:7-11 & Matthew 25:31–46. What do these passages do to heighten your attentiveness toward telling everyone you can about the return of Christ?

3. Read Luke 9:26, Romans 1:16–17 and 1 Corinthians 10:31–33. How do these verses explain the significance of associating with Christ and his gospel?

a. How have you been guilty of advertently or passively disassociating yourself from Jesus and his message when talking with others?

b. What are some ways you have or can begin associating yourself with Jesus and his gospel?

4. Read 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:3. What is the role of an ambassador?

a. How does this description of an ambassador do an excellent job of defining the responsibility of every Christian?

b. In what scenario can you, as an ambassador of Christ, invite someone to rightly respond to the gospel of Jesus this week?

Preaching Point : Every Christian exists to reach people for Christ, teach people to be like Christ & train people to serve Christ.

Main Text : Matthew 28:18–20

Teaching Points:

1.) Reach People for Christ v19a

2.) Teach People to be Like Christ v19b

3.) Train People to Serve Christ v20

Application Questions:

1.) What is one observation you found particularly helpful from this week’s sermon?

2.) Read Matthew 28:16–20 and 1 Corinthians 2:1–5. The mission of making disciples does not allow us to paint with broad strokes when defining what it means to make disciples. And even though many great service-oriented projects can accompany this mission, how do these verses firmly and decisively define how we make disciples?

3.) Read Acts 1:8 and Romans 10:14-15. How do these verses serve as motivation for you to respond to God’s mission to reach people for Christ?

a.) What are ways you can be “going” throughout your week to make disciples?

4.) Read Acts 2:38–41, Acts 8:30–38, and Romans 6:3–4. How do these verses prove the importance of being symbolically immersed into the water as a part of the disciple-making process to present outwardly what Romans 6:3–4 says has already happened inwardly?

5.) Read 2 Timothy 4:1–4 and Colossians 1:28–29. The Great Commission places a premium on the church's responsibility to teach disciples to observe everything Christ commanded and teach others to do the same. What opportunities can you take advantage of here at Compass to help equip you to be like Christ and teach others to be like Christ? If you have not, create a plan to capitalize on those opportunities this year!