May 24, 2015

LOOKING BACK

You Believe What? Forgotten God

1 Samuel – 2 Samuel 1

Jesus promises to send another Helper to the disciples and that it’s “better” that He does (even though it means Him leaving). Ever since that sending, the life for the Christian is meant to look completely different. But for far too many of us, we don’t really know what our Helper is supposed to help us with. And understanding that is crucial to the Christian life…

Thinking It Through (agree/disagree/consider/contemplate)

The Holy Spirit does not make you more aware of your problems, it makes you more aware of your resources to overcome the struggles in your life with joy, by being drawn to the throne of grace, to Jesus our Savior and our Redeemer.

~Tim Keller Working It Out

1. Why do you think we forget about the Holy Spirit so often?

2. Do you think that you view (and interact with) the Holy Spirit like He’s a Person as well as God?

3. Of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, transforming, and empowering work – which is the greatest comfort to you and why?

4. What would it look like for you to live with a greater awareness of who the Holy Spirit is and what He’s doing?

LOOKING AHEAD

You Believe What? WE

So far we have dealt with what we believe largely regarding each of us as individuals. But WE are so much more! We are His church! So what, you may ask? God has made a decision to create a unique group of people to be His body on earth in His absence. Using the Scripture below, let’s explore who WE are!

1. What truths about the church do you learn from these words of Jesus found in Matthew

16:18 before His death and resurrection? (find at least 4!)

I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH…

2. What about WE in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13? What has God done for us/to us? And who is WE?

3. What does WE look like in a local church? Literally. (Ephesians 4:1-3;1 Timothy 5: 1-7; Titus 2: 1-7; Hebrews 10:24-25; James 1:27, 2:1-7, and 5:14-15)

4. What does “organization” look like in a local church? (Acts 14:23, 20:17,28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17)