Sermon Podcast

Point: Identity in Christ informs your role; Your role does not form your identity. Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6 Questions: 1. How should a woman’s identity as a daughter of Christ lead her as she fulfills her role as a wife, daughter, mother, or single? 2. Peter tells wives to not let their beauty be merely external, but rather to focus on the beauty of the heart. What do you think it looks like to “adorn the hidden person of the heart”? Explain. 3. What do you think biblical submission looks like? Why do you think when people are asked to submit they either look for an exception or they rebel? 4. LADIES: How can submission to Jesus and His word make it easier for women to be subject to their husband or future husband? 5. MEN: How can a man make it easier for his wife to submit to God’s word in this context?

Point: Opportunities to be offended are numerous; being mindful of God in the midst of offense is a choice. Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 2:18-25. What does it mean to be “subject to your masters”? 2. How does honoring your supervisors at work honor God? 3. What would it look like for YOU to faithfully serve and honor God in your workplace? 4. How can taking offense or holding a grudge derail God’s good purpose and plan for us? 5. Read verses 24-25. What offenses in your life need to be healed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

Point: How can theCHURCH be influential in times that need our influence? Influence begins with the life behind it. Live influential and you will be influential. Questions: 1. What do you think it means to “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution”? 2. Peter says in verse 15 that it is “The will of God” that we submit to governing authorities. How should we respond to this command when our leaders are Godless or corrupt? 3. How does your submission to the governing authorities give you influence? Explain. 4. What does it mean to live as people who are free? What are some ways we can use our freedom as a cover-up for evil? 5. Do you think it’s ever ok to rebel against the laws of the land? Explain your answer.

Point: God calls us "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession", these are “titles” He has given that require action on our part. We can't merely claim the title we must own the position of knowing Him and making Him known to the world.

Point: Our lives are no less than building material for a spiritual, sacrificial house of God and in Jesus Who is the Cornerstone of the building and the Builder that started the building. Without Him there is no building, there are no people that can be called His people, no assembly that can be called His assembly, no church that can be called His church. Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-8 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 2:1-8. Peter says that those who’ve “tasted that the Lord is good” will be “like living stones…built up as a spiritual house”. Do you consider yourself as a part of the house where God dwells? How should this change the way we live? 2. We usually assume worship is something that we “go to church” to do. Why is worship something we bring to the church, rather than something we go to do? Rooted in Worship: Everything we do and say in every little moment of our lives is rooted in worship. 3. Peter says that we are being built up into a “holy priesthood”. What do you think it means that you and I are now

Main Point: You can’t live in deeper things, if you aren’t living deeper in the foundations Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 2:1-3. What do you think it means to be “like newborn infants”? Explain. 2. How do you know if someone has “tasted that the Lord is good”? Explain. 3. What makes “pure spiritual milk” pure? How would you describe “pure spiritual milk? 4. Would you say you “long for the pure spiritual milk”? Why or why not? 5. What would it look like for you to put away the things in verse 1 and to pursue the Lord instead?

Point: The closer I get to Jesus the more I get to know God and the easier it is to be like Him. The best opportunity we have for getting closer is by being in and praying through His word. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22-25 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 1:22-25. Do you think the bible is the centerpoint of the Christian faith? Why or why not? Explain. 2. Can anyone truly follow Jesus without the word of God? Explain. 3. Look at verse 22. How does the word help you love others from a pure heart? 4. Read verses 23-24. How is the Word of God living and active in and through you? Explain. 5. Why must the good news of the Gospel be continually preached? How can you spread the good news to the people around you this week?

Point: The life God has called us to is so much bigger than the life we lived without Him. Live the life that God desires to live from you, one that looks more and more like Jesus everyday. Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 1:13-19. Peter assumes here that we’ve already been preparing our minds for action. Is this true for you? If so, how do you go about preparing your mind each day? 2. Look at verse 14 again. What do you think Peter means when he says, “do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance”? 3. Read verses 15-16. The expectation in these verses is that we would be holy in the same way that God is holy. That command seems impossible! What do you think it means to be holy, and how can we pursue holiness? 4. Why do you think so many people assume that holiness is just “observing the commandments” rather than a way of life? 5. Look at verses 17, 18, and 19. Does Jesus’ sacrifice make you want to honor Him with your life? If so, what are some ways you can live for Jesus this week and why?

Point: We must not forget that being like Jesus must always precede going and making disciples of Jesus. Scripture: Mt. 28:16-20; Jn. 17:15-18 Questions: 1. Why is it that so many people who claim to be sharing Jesus Christ with the world turn out to be nothing like Him? 2. Why must a true understanding of who Jesus is always precede going and making disciples of Jesus? 3. Why do you think most people assume that the people around them are not looking to have a “Jesus conversation”? 4. What relational areas of our lives are most ignored for gospel sharing and why do you think? 5. How can you tell when The Holy Spirit is working in someone else's life? Do you normally engage or ignore it? Explain.

"Verified" Message 8-30-20 by Pastor Ernie Jaurique

Point: Not all suffering is to test your faith but all suffering will put your faith to the test Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-4 Questions: 1. Read 1 Peter 1:6-9. Why do you think it would be “necessary” for Christians to be “grieved by various trials”? Explain. 2. Why is it easy to believe in the infinite power of God and at the same time feel that He is unable to meet your personal needs? 3. How do trials and the testing of our faith help us to know whether or not we have true faith in God? 4. Why do you think we struggle with expressing faith in God, even though we live by faith everyday? 5. How is praise established in rough times? How is God honored by your trust even if things don’t work out the way you want?

Point: When the Gospel is seen and felt it is way easier to hear and believe. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-4; Acts 5:12-33 Questions: 1. How is it that so many who hope in heaven refuse to trust their whole life to Christ? 2. What is Faith? How do you know whether your faith is just empty words or belief that leads to action? 3. How does a lack of faith limit God’s work in and through your life? 4. Why must the Gospel of Jesus Christ be not only be heard but also seen and felt in and through your life? 5. Read Romans 6:15-23. How does your lifestyle give evidence to the fact that we have an inheritance in eternity and that Jesus is coming back for us?

Point: Who or what you worship will determine how you live. Who or what you believe Jesus to be will determine what you do with what He said. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-2; Matthew 16:13-20 Questions: 1. What is the most important question you have ever been asked and why? 2. Read 1 Peter 1:2. How would you explain the Trinity? Why do you think we should at least have a general understanding of the relationship and work of the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit? 3. Who do you say Jesus is? How close does your everyday life match your answer? 4. Do you find yourself trying to fight off sin more than allowing the Spirit to empower you to overcome it? How can you better allow the Spirit of God to work out of your life? 5. How does rightly understanding who Jesus is and owning His position in your life everyday change not only your life but impact the lives around you?

Questions: 1. Read Jn. 6:44; Jn. 15:16. Oftentimes we think we’re the ones who chose to follow Jesus. Do you believe that God chose you? Why or why not. 2. Read Luke 5:1-11, 27-32. God uses regular, ordinary people to accomplish His mission. Do you believe that God will use you to accomplish His purposes? Why or why not? 3. How can we own the position of being chosen by God with confidence as well as humility? Explain. 4. Jesus chose His disciples to take part in the greatest story of all time: Redemption in Christ. How does your life as a disciple of Jesus require you to be more than just ordinary? 5. As God’s chosen disciples, how can you use your life to focus on and build up the kingdom of God rather than just on your individual, personal relationship with Jesus?

Point: The bible is full of promises that we love to express and even claim for others but somehow have a hard time believing that they are ours. Scripture: Psalm 91 Questions: 1. Read Psalm 91. Name some of God’s promises found in this passage. Explain. 2. Are there any prerequisites to obtaining the promises in Psalm 91? What does it mean to dwell in the shelter of the Most High? Explain. 3. What are some of the ways in which the enemy tries to discount the promises of God? 4. Does claiming God’s promises mean we will never suffer as Christians? Can you think of a time where God promises adversity? Explain. 5. What can you do to dwell in the presence of God this week? How can your Community Group challenge and encourage you in this?

Main Point: What if you could know the one thing on earth that literally everyone else is dying to know? Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 16:21-27, 19:16-22, 28:19-20 Questions: 1. Read Genesis 3:1-6. Do you trust God to define what is good and what is evil? Why or why not? Explain. 2. Is it possible that we have created a cultural Jesus and a cultural Christianity? 3. Would you define yourself as a true follower of Christ? Are you living with the eternal kingdom in mind or is your hope and trust in the man-made kingdoms of this world? 4. How do we change our hearts to be conformed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ? 5. Read Matthew 28:19-20. The call of the kingdom, and following Jesus, is defined by the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Are you actively involved in making disciples? How?

Point: We need to trust God to lead us beyond the bounds of what we know is safe and secure. Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21; Exodus 14:10-14 Questions: 1. Read Exodus 14:10-14 and Isaiah 43:16-18. Do you find yourself longing for the “good old days”? What about the past do you desire? 2. Read Isaiah 43:19-21. Why is it so hard to be perceptive of the ways God is working for our good and His glory? 3. How can we allow uncomfortable and unknown circumstances to become a starting point for change? 4. As God takes us beyond the bounds of what we know is safe and secure, will you trust God? Why or why not? Explain. 5. Search your heart: In who or what do I place my safety and security? What would it look like to find my safety and security in Christ alone?

Point: Life is hazardous, but God’s goodness can shine through any situation or circumstance. Questions: 1. In what ways has our current pandemic strengthened your walk with Christ? In what ways has it challenged your walk with Christ? 2. Read verses 11-13. What are some ways we can lift up our voices to God for mercy? 3. Read verse 14. Do you find it easier to follow the commands of God or to believe in His promises? Explain. 4. Read verses 15-19. How often do you allow God’s goodness to lead you into praise and worship? 5. How can we as a community group choose to worship God this week, regardless of situation or circumstance?

Point: If the “side” you pick in any circumstance or issue is higher than Christ’s side then you are already on the wrong side. Scripture: Philippians 1:21-30 Questions: 1. Read Philippians 1:21-30. What does it look like to live a life worthy of the gospel? 2. How can we as theCHURCH approach the world’s problems from the side of Christ? 3. What does it mean to “stand firm in one spirit”? Explain. 4. How can we become “one mind” striving “side by side for the faith of the gospel”? 5. What can YOU do this week to allow God and His Word to be your filter for the different sides taking place around you?

Point: Jesus healed us and continues to heal us so we can join Him in healing others. Scripture: Mt. 9:35-38; 10:24-25a Questions: 1. When you “see the crowds” today, are you moved with compassion or are you moved by some other emotion? 2. What does it look like to be a “pre-responder” to the crowds in our society? 3. Do you see yourself as a laborer in God’s harvest? How are you currently making disciples of Jesus Christ? 4. Do you have a tendency to be more of a hider, hurter, or hater? What do you need to do to become a healer? 5. What would it look like to bring healing to those who are isolated, depressed, jobless, afraid, and broken?