Highland Park Pres

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:5

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Sermon Text:1 Corinthians: 12:31-13:13

Scripture: Colossians 1:3–14

Sermon Text: Luke 1:46–55

Sermon Text: Genesis 3:1-15

Sermon Text: Isaiah 42:1–4

Sermon Text: Isaiah 9:2–7

Sermon Text: 2 Timothy 4:9–22

Sermon Text:2 Timothy 4:6–8

Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 6:6–10,17–19

Scripture Text: 2 Tim. 3:14-17

Discussion Guide Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:8–10, 15–16 Discussion Questions What comes to mind when you hear “training in godliness”? What is helpful to you in comparing the Christian life to physical training?  Read 1 Timothy 4:7-16. Which of these exhortations from Paul to Timothy stands out to you? Why does Paul say we need to pursue "training in godliness"? How are you "training" to grow in your life as a disciple of Jesus? In what ways would you want to grow in this? What do you think of HP Pres' goal of desiring that 100% of our members be growing? Should this be a goal we set as a church? How should we move towards this goal together? 

Discussion Guide Scripture memory: p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 4.0px 0.0px; line-height: 11.1px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; color: #5e5f61} Matthew 5:3–10 Discussion Questions What is a warning or sign or piece of advice that you received that you wish you had taken heed of and followed? Why didn't you listen to it? Read Matthew 7:24–29. Verse 28 says the crowd was “astonished” at Jesus’ sermon. Think about your experience reading the Beatitudes as part of Matthew 5–7. What is astonishing about these words of Jesus? What will stick with you the most from this series? Look at what happens to the two houses when the storms come. What do these experiences look like in real life? Read also James 1:22–25. What warning do these verses and Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 have for us? Can you think of ways in which you need to not just hear Jesus’ words but actually put them into action? There’s an old hymn that goes, “On Christ, the

Discussion Guide Scripture memory: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 Discussion Questions Describe a time when being, doing, or speaking righteousness cost you something. Did you know it would cost you something ahead of time? Read Matthew 5:10–12. The Beatitudes do not describe eight different kinds of people, but eight characteristics of every Christ follower. What does it look like for this particular Beatitude to be true of us in America and in Dallas today? What is promised in this Beatitude for those who are persecuted? How do you feel about what is promised? What is the difference between being persecuted for the sake of Christ and simply drawing fire for being obnoxious? Throughout history, it has often been the case that the church grew the most when persecution was at its peak. Why do you think this is true? What does that mean for us?

Discussion Guide Scripture memory: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 Discussion Questions Who do you think of when you think of a peacemaker? Describe what makes this person a peacemaker. Read Ephesians 2:11-22. What relationships described here need peace restored? What is the cause of these conflicts? How is peace made? Read Matthew 5:9. Why are peacemakers called children of God? Why does this in particular reflect our relationship to our Father? A helpful way to think about the idea of peacemaking is to ask: What’s the difference between a peace-faker, a peace-breaker, and a peacemaker? Which one of these three do you naturally gravitate towards? Peace-faker (you’re passive aggressive, or you run from the problem), a peace-breaker (you are too harsh in confrontation or withhold forgiveness), or a peace-maker? Why? How can you move towards peacemaking? One pastor refers to true peace as a “costly treasure.” Do you think this

Discussion Guide Scripture memory: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8 Discussion Questions What stood out to you from this Sunday’s message and from studying the beatitudes these past few weeks? Jesus very well could have been borrowing the phrase “pure in heart” from Psalm 24. Read Psalm 24:1–5. How does it help you understand the phrase “pure in heart”? How does this psalm also give hope for sinners to be called “pure in heart”? The words “in heart” are so key in understanding this beatitude. What distinction do you see between being “pure in heart” and being pure or holy in outward behavior? Why do we often default to thinking its merely the latter? This beatitude reveals some of how we think about God and what it means to know him. A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” What comes into your mind when you think about

Discussion Guide Scripture memory: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 Discussion Questions How have the beatitudes shaped you these past weeks? Have any of them been especially difficult to put into action or convicting as you've reflected on them? Share about a time when you received mercy from someone (e.g. punishment, grade, speeding ticket, etc.). Read Matthew 18:21-35. What is Peter's question and what is Jesus saying by answering it with this parable? When are you tempted to withhold mercy from someone? How come? Can you think of someone specific you should be showing mercy to? What would that look like? When we are shown mercy and continue to be hard-hearted in showing mercy to others, it makes one wonder whether we truly understand the gift of mercy we have been given. Is there an area of hard-heartedness that God wants to soften? How might growing in understanding and gratitude of the mercy you have received help soften your heart?