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MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Rock of Ages (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) – Death of Death by Charlie Hall

Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews

Lord of All (Psalm 97:5-6) – Attention by Kristian Stanfill

Touch the Sky (1 Corinthians 2:9) – Empires by Hillsong United

With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God IS Able by Hillsong Worship

TEACHING: Remember, Part 1: The Consequences of Forgetfulness

The blessing of remembrance is the enjoyment of God and all His benefits, but when we choose to forget God, there are relational and generational consequences. Only in Christ do we have the power to remember as we should.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
2. What is one of your favorite memories? Why? How does this memory illustrate the power of remembering for you?
3. Read and discuss Deuteronomy 4:9, 8:11-20, Judges 2:10-12 and 2 Peter 1:3-15. What do these verses tell you about you? What do they tell us about God? What do they indicate about remembering and forgetting?
4. How does being “heads down” lead to a slow drift away from God, His presence and His benefits?
5. “The blessings of the Lord become idols in a forgetful heart.” How have you seen this to be true? What do you tend to trust in other than God?
6. How does forgetting God and what He’s done whither our spiritual growth?
7. How do the consequences of forgetfulness have ripple effects that go beyond ourselves?
8. What things do you tend to forget about God? Where in your life do you need to “lift up your head” to recalibrate your trajectory?
9. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for His grace and goodness for us in Christ. Pray that He would help you not forget Him and His great works.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Our God Is Love (1 John 4:9-10) – A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong

In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Alive In Us (Ephesians 2:8-9) – God Is Able by Hillsong

10,000 Reasons (Psalm 103:1) – Unrelenting Love by Nick Thurmond

Give Me Faith (Psalm 73:25-26) – Nothing Is Wasted byElevation Worship

Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)

TEACHING: Seeing People As They Are, Part 2

Words create and words destroy. The words we speak shape the lives of the people we come into contact with. The church needs to be a proactive influence in the lives of everyone inside and outside of it with the tone and timing of our words.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
2. What does it mean that we “came through the line of Adam”? What are the implications of this? Even if we don’t know the details, what does this tell us about everyone’s story?
3. Read and discuss Matthew 5:13-16. Who is Jesus talking to? What does He tell us about man? What do these verses tell us about God?
4. “The world, by its nature, is rotting.” How and where do you observe this? How does this give context to the verses above?
5. What’s the difference between being a moral policeman as opposed to a moral example? Which do you tend toward?
6. Read through Proverbs 12 & 15. What do these chapters tell us about the power of words? What types of words are mentioned here? How have you seen the power of words bringing life or death in your life?
7. How does the tone and timing of our words affect their impact?
8. How does the gospel inform and affect how we speak to others?
9. Is there someone you need to “pull the sword out of” (Proverbs 12:18) because of your reckless words? Share with your group and spend some time in prayer for them. Make a plan to ask for forgiveness this week.
10. Spend some time thanking God for the eternal word of Christ and the spiritual healing He brings. Ask God to show you someone that you can bring healing words to this week.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Endless Light (Psalm 113:3-4) – Cornerstone by Hillsong

Only King Forever (1 Timothy 1:17) – Only King Forever by Elevation Worship

The Lord Our God (2 Peter 1:3) – Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)

Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up The Wonder by Elevation Worship

Your Great Name (Philippians 2:10-11) – Love Revolution by Natalie Grant

Be Lifted High (John 3:30) – Nothing Is Wasted by Elevation Worship

TEACHING: Seeing People As They Are, Part 1

Our tendency is to judge difficult people through our natural understanding of them, but Jesus has a whole new way of seeing people. If we only knew their story, we might respond with compassion instead of judgement.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
2. What was one thing that was said or done to you in the past that played a pivotal role in shaping your story?
3. Read and discuss Matthew 7:1-5. What do you note about the nature of man? What does it indicate about the nature of God? How do you personally respond to this text?
4. Read and discuss Luke 7:36-50. Compare and contrast Jesus with the Pharisee in this account. Where do you see yourself in this account? How does this section relate to the verses from Matthew 7 in the previous question?
5. Who comes to mind in your life when you think of a difficult person or group? How do you see them? How do you think Jesus sees them?
6. Even if you don’t know the specifics, how does knowing that someone has a story guide us toward compassion toward them?
7. “The church should be safe place to tell your story.” Have you found this to be true? Why or why not?
8. In what areas of your life do you struggle with hypocrisy? How might people on the “outside” who don’t know your story judge you for those? How does the gospel of Jesus address those areas?
9. Spend some time in prayer asking God for the grace to see difficult people as Jesus sees them.

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

How Great Thou Art (Psalm 145:3) – Hymns Ancient & Modern by Charlie Hall (Passion)

Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) (Psalm 27:1) – Let The Future Begin by Chris Tomlin (Passion)

God You Lifted Me Out (Psalm 30:1-2) – For The Honor by Elevation Worship

The Lord Our God (James 1:17) –Let The Future Begin by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)

Be Thou My Vision (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) – Cathedral by Heartsong

With Us (Psalm 46:10-11a) – God Is Able by Hillsong

TEACHING: Grace Given, Grace Received – Part 2

Grace empowers talent to do what talent could never do alone.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
2. How is grace “the power to live the Christian life” and “an instructor”?
3. Read and discuss 1 Peter 4:7-11 and Romans 12:1-8. What do you see about the nature of man? What do you note about the nature of God? What do these passages tell us about grace? About gifts?
4. What is the difference between a talent and a gift?
5. What gifts or talents do you have? (Evaluation questions: What tends to frustrate you? What are you passionate about? What do people around you say that you are good at?)
6. Why does God give His people gifts? Do you feel you are using your gifts for His purposes? Why or why not?
7. What are some specific ways you can use your gifts for the kingdom of God?
8. Spend some time in prayer asking thanking God for the gifts He gives His people. Ask Him to empower your talents with His grace and use you to further His kingdom.