Community Group Discussion Guide

Looking Forward – August 25, 2019

I. Starter Questions:

• What do you hope to see us do together as a CG in the next year? Around Christmas? Around our community? Around the world? With each other?

• What are you looking forward to in the next year personally, as a family, in your work, or at church?

II. Overview:

Last Sunday, we looked back and saw how the Lord has been good and faithful to our church. We praised God through the recounting of His wonderful deeds (Psalm 9). John preached on 1 Thessalonians 1:2 through 2:13, and in this passage, Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians’ faith and example. John used that as a lens through which to view God’s good work within our church both in the last year and in our 55 years as a distinct congregation.

This Sunday, we’re looking forward to the next 55 years! Our Scripture reading this week picks up where we left off last week and carries us through 1 Thessalonians 3.

III. Discussion of Scripture:

A. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13 (ESV)13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

Paul's Longing to See Them Again17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Brief Explanation: Previously, Paul and his missionary brothers had been driven out of Thessalonica. Careful of how it might be perceived — because their departure was quick, they hadn’t completed their teaching, and they’d been gone for a while — Paul thought to write to the Thessalonians explaining their absence and to express that he deeply longed to see them again. In fact, he cared so much for them that he sent Timothy, “God’s coworker” (v. 3:2), to better establish them and to exhort them amidst their sufferings. Paul was encouraged by the good news that Timothy carried back.

For Discussion:

1. In verse 3:1, Paul says that he sent Timothy to the Thessalonians to be with them because he “could bear it no longer” after being apart from them for a time. What does this say about Paul’s heart for the Thessalonians? How can this be an example to us individually, and as a church, as we look forward?

2. Paul was worried that the “tempter had tempted” (v. 3:5) them and steered them away from their faith. Who is the tempter? What are some ways, given the Thessalonians’ situation (they were new believers, they didn’t yet have a complete teaching on Jesus’ second coming, and they were experiencing a surprising amount of suffering), that the tempter could have used to lead some to fall away? There have been several notable figures who have abandoned Christianity recently — as

we look down the road, what are some ways that the tempter might tempt some of us in our church to abandon our faith?

3. Paul expresses great comfort (v. 7) and joy (v. 9) in hearing of the Thessalonians faith and love (v. 6). He says, “we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith” (v. 10). What are some things we can learn from Paul in his prayers?

4. Paul desires that the Lord make the Thessalonians “abound in love for one another and for all” (v. 12). At the end of the verse, we see the end result, or goal, of that love — what is it? As we look to the future as a church — how are we currently showing love to each other, and to the world? And, how might we be praying for the Lord to make us abound in love even more?

IV. Henderson Hills’ Mission, Vision, and Values

Occasionally we’ll attach Henderson Hills’ mission, vision, and values to the end of our sermon discussion guides as we did this week. These three statements are vital — they help us understand who we are as a people, what we’re called to do, and where we believe God is leading us. Our values determine what we do! We can measure all our decisions as a church against these, and ultimately to the Scripture on which they’re based.

As CG leaders, we set Henderson Hills’ last-mile example of what a life looks like that is submitted to the biblical ideas captured in these mission, vision, and values statements.

And, how do we live out these defining ideas? We live them out with humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance (HGPF): “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

For Discussion:

1. What is the mission of Henderson Hills? What are the Scriptural roots for this mission?

2. Read our vision statement — what are we doing as a church that is getting us closer to the fulfillment of that vision? What could we start doing — or do more of! — to advance that vision? What about as a CG?

3. What is the common #1 priority expressed across our mission, vision, and values? Why?

V. Responding in Prayer:

1. Pray for our church as we look to the future. We desire to do the good work God has for us!

Pray that we would establish ourselves ever more firmly on strong gospel and biblical foundations, and that we would rightly exhort one another, so inevitable afflictions would not move our affections for the Lord (1 Thess. 3:2). Pray that we would be a church full of people whose hearts break for the lost. Pray that our love would abound for one another and for all (1 Thess. 3:12).

2. This world isn’t as it should be, yet. Gather around those in your group who are suffering through uniquely tough times, and pray for them in love and encouragement.

3. Continue praying for the new school year in our church, that we would see good Gospel fruit come in our outreaches. Pray that as they look toward the fall the elders would take wise steps to lead and to strategize to make more disciples who make disciples. Pray for many new people to step up and mentor middle school community groups, Hillside Kids’ groups, and college groups. Pray for many more new church members to take steps of faith to serve, to grow and to give. Pray for our worship pastor search to take every right step as we near the end. Pray for our search for a family equipping pastor and for our residency program to restart soon. Pray for our worship gatherings to continue to be filled with God’s power and grace, pointing people to Jesus. Pray that every one of us becomes a disciple-maker, praying for and working for new disciples.

Mission / Vision / Valuesof Henderson Hills Baptist Church

Our Mission:Love God. Love People. Make Disciples. Our Vision:Our vision is to become a diverse family of surrendered and transformed people who passionately love God and others. We endeavor to be a body that is overcome by the reality that this life is not about us, but all about the glory of God. We want to be transfixed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and compelled by His heart for our world. We strive to be seed-throwers and fire-starters, hope-announcers and grace-givers, risk-takers and constant-reformers, lifelong-learners and sold-out doers. We desire to be a people who gladly give our lives to free the captive, strengthen the weak, embrace the outcast, and seek out the lost. Because Scripture is our authority, we strive to be a family that serves together, studies the Word together, plays together, worships together, and lives life together. By God's grace our world will be changed because we are here. Our Values:

1. Glorifying God:We value the passionate pursuit of knowing God and walking with Him.

2. Submitting to the Authority of Scripture:We value the sufficiency of Scripture in every aspect of our lives.

3. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ:We value sharing the Gospel and making disciples.

4. Serving with a Kingdom Perspective:We value living our lives focused upon what will matter most for eternity.

5. Cherishing the Local Church:We value the essential role of the church in the sanctification of the believer and salvation of the nations.

6. Doing Life Together in a Christ-Centered Community:We value that God uniquely uses personal relationships to sanctify and sharpen believers.