Sermon Podcast

Point: Creating a Jesus culture that doesn’t demand a Jesus response is exactly how Jesus began ganging the world one person at a time. Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4 Questions: 1. What do you think it means to obey your parents “in the Lord”? Explain your answer. 2. What is the difference between “obeying your parents in the lord” and “honoring your father and mother”? Explain. 3. How can parents bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? Give some examples. 4. Sermon Application: Conviction: How did the sermon (or this Scripture) challenge you personally? Be specific. Character: What about you needs to change in light of what you’ve learned? Be honest and specific. Competence: What is your plan for becoming a better parent and/or child? Share with the group what you are going to do, how you are going to do it, and when you are going to do it. Leaders – Write everyone’s plan down in a journal and come back to it next week during breakouts.

Point: Creating a Jesus culture that doesn’t demand a Jesus response is exactly how Jesus began ganging the world one person at a time. Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4-14 Questions: There are 2 goals to these questions: Biblical Understanding and Heart Change. We want to understand God’s Word at an intellectual level, but we don’t want to just hold it at arms length as a concept. We also want it to change our lives and transform our hearts. Let these questions read you, challenge you, and convict you so that you can have the freedom to be the man or woman God has called you to be. 1. Read verse 4. Why is it important to recognize that God has placed you in your town and your neighborhood for a unique purpose? 2. Read verses 5-6. Why do you think God wants His people to multiply in the city they are in and not decrease? Explain. 3. Read verse 7. What do you think God means when He says “In [the city’s] welfare you will find your welfare”? Explain your answer. 4. Sermon Application: Conviction: How did the ser

Point: Your marriage might be the most vital gospel you ever preach. Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33 Questions: 1. Read verses 22-24. Why does this command for wives seem to go against our culture today? 2. Read verses 25-32. How is marriage a picture of the gospel? Explain. 3. Read verses 25 and 33. How can a husband love his wife the way that Christ loved the church? Explain your answer. 4. Sermon Application: Conviction: How does Ephesians 5:22-33 challenge you personally? Be specific. Character: What about your role as a husband or wife needs to change? Be honest and specific. Competence: What is your plan for change? What are you going to do, how are you going to do it, and when are you going to do it? Write it down in a journal and share it with the group.

Point: Clarity can only be found in knowing and understanding God’s Will and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21 Questions: 1. Read verses 15-16. Why is there such a desperate need for clarity in our world today? Explain. 2. Read verses 17-18. According to what we’ve learned so far in Ephesians, what is “the will of the Lord”? Explain. 3. Read verses 19-21. What are the three marks of a Spirit-filled life here in these verses? 4. Sermon Application: Conviction: How does Ephesians 5:15-21 challenge you personally? Be specific. Character: What about your character needs to change? Be honest and specific. Competence: What is your plan for change? What are you going to do, how are you going to do it, and when are you going to do it? Write it down in a journal and share it with the group.

Point: Progress over sexual sin will not be made by merely saying “no” to it but also by saying “yes” to something and even Someone much better. Scripture: Ephesians 5:6-14 Questions: 1. Read verse 6. What are some lies that people tend to believe in the church? 2. Read verses 7-8. What does it mean to be “partners” with those who live in the dark? Explain. 3. Read verses 9-10. How can we “discern what is pleasing to the Lord”? Explain. 4. Read verses 11-14. How do we “expose” the “unfruitful works of darkness”? Give an example.

Point: Progress over sexual sin will not be made by merely saying “no” to it but also by saying “yes” to something and even Someone much better. Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-5 Questions: 1. Read verses 1-2. What do you think it means to be an imitator of God? Explain. 2. Read verse 3. What are some common manifestations of sexual immorality, covetousness, or impurity? 3. Read verse 4. Why do you think talking and joking about sexual stuff is such a problem? Explain. 4. Read verse 5. What is your plan for saying no to sexual immorality and pursuing inheritance in the kingdom of Christ instead?

Point: Anger may win the moment but it cannot win the day. Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32 1. Read verses 25-27. What do you think it means to “be angry” but without sin? 2. How does letting “the sun go down on your anger” give an opportunity to the devil? Explain. 3. Read verses 28-29. How would you define “corrupting talk”? Give examples. 4. Read verses 30-32. What is your plan for putting off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice?

Point: As much as we claim control over our lives, it’s very easy to allow ourselves to be controlled by life… A life in Christ will not be controlled by anything outside of Christ. Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24 Questions: 1. Read verses 17-19. What is the progression of slavery to sin in these verses? 2. Read verses 20-24. What is the progression of freedom in these verses? 3. Read verses 17-24 again. Be honest, which progression controls your life? The progression of slavery or the progression of freedom? 4. Read verse 23 one more time. What does it mean to be renewed in the spirit of your mind? Explain your answer.

Point: True leadership is servant leadership - from the ground up. You can’t lift people up if you’re always above them, and if you find yourself above the people you’re “leading” you’re not leading them… you’re using them. Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16 Questions: 1. Read verses 11-12. Have you ever considered that it is your job, not just the pastor’s job, to do the work of ministry? Explain. 2. Read verses 13-14. What should a mature Christian look like? Explain your answer. 3. Read verses 15-16. What does it mean to “speak the truth in love”? Explain your answer. 4. APPLICATION: What is your plan for (1) being discipled, (2) walking with other disciples, and (3) making disciples?

Point: The church is called to be a community of unity. Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-10 1. Read verses 1-3. Does your life give evidence that your identity is in Christ alone? Why or why not? 2. Read verses 4-6. What do you think it means for you to be a part of the body of Christ - the church? Explain. 3. Read verses 7-10. What gifts, skills, and passions has God given you? Name a few. 4. APPLICATION: What can you do this week to be a part of the Community of God? Give us a plan for how you will serve.

Point: The life of a minister is a Jesus-Centered life that pursues deep relationships, lives with purpose and meaning, and is committed to the service of others. Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13 Questions: 1. Read Ephesians 3:1-7. Have you ever considered yourself as a “minister” of the gospel? Why or why not? 2. Read verses 7-8. How can you be intentional and purposeful about sharing the gospel news in your daily conversations with friends, co-workers, and family? 3. Read verses 8-9. How can you purposefully live in a way that shines the spotlight on Jesus? Explain. 4. Read verses 10-13. According to verse 10, why is it important to be involved in and a part of the church? Explain.

Point: The life of a minister is a Jesus centered life that pursues deep relationships, lives with purpose and meaning, and is committed to the service of others.

Point: Full humanity can only be experienced through the church of Jesus Christ. Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22 1. Read verses 11-12. How does being separated from God, separated from God’s people, and separated from hope keep us from being fully human? Explain. 2. Read verses 13-18. How does the gospel reconcile us back to our true humanity? Explain. 3. Read verses 19-22. How does being a part of the church give us a new identity (as citizens), a new belonging (as a family), and a new purpose (as the dwelling place of God)? Explain. 4. Will you commit to standing in grace right here in this Community Group? How can we make it easier for you to be open and honest about your sin and struggles? 5. Will you commit to serving in theCHURCH? If you aren’t already, how will you serve regularly in theCHURCH in order to help build God’s Kingdom?

Living Life beyond this world while fully alive in the world.

Point: The most powerful thing we can do in another person’s life is pray in the power that God has invited us to pray in. Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 Questions: 1. Do you pray often for the church? Why or why not? 2. What can we learn from Paul’s prayer for the church in this text? 3. Read verses 17 and 18 again. What kinds of things should we be praying into for the church? Explain. 4. Will you commit to praying for the church this week? What is your plan to make that happen?

Point: Knowing and trusting the work that God has already done for you will lead you to, establish you in, and empower you for a Christ-centered life. Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14 Questions: 1. Read Ephesians 1:1-6. Do you believe that God has chosen you for a new life - a life of holiness and commitment to Him? Why or why not? 2. Read verses 7-12 again. What do you think it means to be “in Christ”? 3. Read verses 13 and 14. What does it mean to be “sealed with the Holy Spirit”? 4. Do you believe what Paul says in this passage (vs. 1-14)? If so, what needs to change in your life this week because of this passage?

Point: Though there will always be more to do, only true biblical rest will assure you of what needs to be done. Scripture: Joshua 24:1-15 Questions: 1. What do you think the difference is between leisurely rest and Jesus-centered rest? Is there a difference? Explain. 2. Read Joshua 24:1-13. Why do you think it is necessary to reflect on what God has already done? 3. Read Joshua 24:14. How does connecting with God through “Jesus-centered rest” actually get things done? 4. Read Joshua 24:15. How does taking time to reflect on what God has done and connect with Him daily, lead to you projecting a commitment to God in your everyday life? 5. Will you commit to a Christ-centered tomorrow? What does that look like? What needs to change? Give us a plan.

Point: God promises to answer our prayers. Scripture: 1 John 5:13-15 Questions: 1. Read 1 John 5:13-15. What do you think it looks like to have confidence in prayer? 2. Do you believe that God hears and listens to your prayers? Why or why not? 3. How do you know if you are praying according to God’s will? 4. What needs to change in your prayer life in order for you to come to Him in honest, bold, confidence? Explain. 5. What is your plan for making time to pray this week? How can we help?

Point: A Life Centered on Jesus Christ is a life that is committed to God’s Word. Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12-13 Questions: 1. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Do you believe that the Bible is God’s Word? Why or why not? 2. Do you trust that the Bible is for you and not against you? Why or why not? 3. Read Hebrews 4:12-13. How is the Bible living and active? Explain. 4. What steps will you take to get into God’s Word this week? Give us a plan. 5. If your centeredness in Christ was measured by your quality time in God’s Word, what would be the result?

Point: Creating opportunities to hear from God is not something you try, it is something you determine to do on purpose. Scripture: Psalm 23 Questions: 1. Read Psalm 23:1-2. What does it take to have this type of satisfaction in God? Explain. 2. Read verses 3-4. What does it look like to let God lead while being quiet and still before Him? Explain. 3. Read verses 5-6. In what ways does creating a listening space lead to restoration of our souls? Explain. 4. How will you cultivate a listening space this week? Give us your plan.