Made To Worship

Job 1:13-21

Questions for Further Discussion
1. God allowed Satan to bring disaster to Job’s life. How does this effect your view of God? Can He love humanity with an everlasting love, and still do something like this?
2. What’s an appropriate amount of time to grieve the loss of loved one, or endure the pain of betrayal, or struggle with an uncomfortable situation? (See Genesis 50:3; Numbers 14:33-34; Deuteronomy 34:8; Luke 4:1-2) Do we typically take this amount of time?
3. How does Job 1 shape (re-shape?) your understanding of worship?

Made To Worship

John 4:19-26

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Is there a particular place or time that you have designated for worship? Why or why not?
2. Read verse 22 - how is it possible to worship something we do not know?
3. Read Deuteronomy 29:22-29. What is the danger of worshiping something we do not know? Do the consequences seem fair?
4. The Samaritan woman’s tradition prevented her from seeing and understanding who Jesus was. What are the traditions and/or cultural barriers that prevent us from truly knowing Christ?

Made To Worship

Romans 12:1-2

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Without consulting a dictionary or commentary, give a brief definition of worship. (Also, write it down and keep it in an accessible place, then refer to it every couple of weeks and see if you still define it the same way.)
2. What are some of the ways we (almost naturally), conform to the pattern of the world?
3. What does “renewing our mind” have to do with worship?
4. What are some practical ways you can “test and approve” (or put into practice) what God’s will is?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Hebrews 13:20-25

Questions for further discussion:
1. How would summarize v. 20-21 in your own words?
2. What is the picture of God the Son and God the Father given 20-21? Which is aspect of this is most meaningful in your life right now?
3. How do you see v. 20-21 summarizing the whole book of Hebrews?
4. What have you learned from Hebrews about the new covenant? the heavenly tabernacle? God's discipline? being on the way of Christ?
5. What do you think is the most significant thing in the book of Hebrews for our lives today?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Hebrews 13:1-19

Questions for further discussion:
1. Read Matthew 25:31-46, how does this compare to Hebrews 13:1-19? What parallels do you see? What differences? How does Hebrews 13:1-19 flesh out Matthew 25:31-46 or vice versa?
2. Check out Genesis 18; Judges 6 and 13. How does the idea of "entertaining angels" (13:2) change the way you think about "strangers"? What might be some concrete examples where you need to reconsider how you deal with certain situations (panhandlers, etc...)?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Coming Apart at the Seams
Hebrews 12:14-29

Questions for further discussion:
Read Mark 9:50; Romans 12:18, 14:19; Why do you think it is important to live at peace with all men, including people far from God?
In what ways are you experiencing the temptation of Esau (Gen 25:29-34)? What do you need to do about it?
Why do you think Hebrews 12:18-24 would discourage a Hebrew believer from lapsing back into the old covenant system?
In what ways can you identify with the people to whom the pastor is writing? How do you endanger your experience of grace?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Coming Apart at the Seams

Hebrews 11:17-40

Coming Apart At The Seams

Hebrews 11:1-16

Questions For Further Discussion
1. Compare Hebrews 11:1-2 to 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. What additional insights do you gain about living by faith?
2. According to verse 6, there are two requirements that are necessary to come to God. What are they? Are they both necessary?
3. In Hebrews 11:7, Noah was commended for his faith. Since he lived in a dry region about 500 miles from the sea, why wasn’t his action considered foolish? What’s the difference between foolishness and faith?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Hebrews 10:1-18

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Read verse 1 and Hebrews 9:11 - what are some of the "good things that are to come?"
2. How was the old sacrificial system useful to our understanding of Jesus Christ?
3. Verse 7 and 9 both say that Jesus has come to "do God's will." According to verse 10, what is God's will?
4. The definition of insanity is sometimes referred to as "doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results." How do we do this in our worship, prayer and Bible study?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Coming Apart at the Seams - Hebrews 9:16-28.

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Read the following verses: Genesis 9:6; Exodus 12:13; Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; John 6:53-54; Romans 5:9; Revelation 5:9. From the first book of the Bible to the last, what word/theme is mentioned again and again?
2. Why do you feel like the theme from the above question is so often ignored in Bible studies and sermons?
3. The notion of something being "cleansed with blood" (v. 22) is strange, because blood stains everything. How do you reconcile this idea in your mind?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Text: Hebrews 9:11-15

Questions for Further Discussion.
1. Describe, in your own words, the big picture of Chapter 9. How did the tabernacle and the worship that took place there point to something far greater?
2. Look at verse 9-10. Why weren't the sacrifices of the old covenant able to "clear the conscience of the worshiper?"
3. Contemplate verse 14 for a few minutes. How does the blood of Christ both enable us and motivate us to "serve the living God?"
4. Read verse 15. What is the "promised eternal inheritance?" Why couldn't we receive it if Christ hadn't died?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for further discussion:
1. How does the fact that your relationship to God is based on Jesus' sacrifice, not on working to please God, affect your feelings and actions?
2. What is involved in knowing God (8:11)? How can we make this a concrete reality?
3. God has chosen not to remember you sins any more (8:12). How does this motivate you to act?
4. What is one key truth from Hebrews 8 that you would like to embrace this week?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for further discussion:
1. If there is one thing you could have, cost being no limit, what would it be? Why?
2. What do you think is your greatest need?
3. Read Mark 2:1-12. Why do you think Jesus chose to forgive the paralytic as opposed to healing him right off? In what ways are you similar to the paralytic?
4. Why do you think it is significant that Jesus "always lives to intercede" for us? How does this make it so that "he is able to save completely"?

Waiting on God

Questions for further discsussion:

1. What does it mean to wait?
2. Have you experienced a period of waiting in your life? Please describe.
3. What was the hardest thing for you to deal with during the waiting period?
4. What did you learn about yourself during the waiting period?
5. What did you learn about God during that time?
6. How do the four different types of waiting give you greater insight into what it means to wait?

Coming Apart at the Seams

This week's passage - Hebrews 6:13-20

Questions For Further Discussion
1. Has there ever been a time when you felt like God let you down? How did this affect the way you viewed God's promises in the Bible?
2. Are you the type of person who needs someone to prove themselves before you can trust them? If so, do you do the same thing with God? If you are a naturally trusting person, what are some reasons why you lose you confidence in God?

Teamwork

Questions for further discussion:
What was the best team you’ve ever been a part of? What made it great?

Where do you see Grace Chapel excelling and working together like a body? Where do you see room to grow in this?

If you had to pick one of the 7 gifts that Paul listed in Romans 12, which one most describes you? What other gifts or strengths do you bring to the table? Are you putting those strengths to good use?

Coming Apart at the Seams

This week - Hebrews 5:5-10.

Questions for Further Discussion
1. List some reasons why Jesus as a high priest is different from any other man who held the position. What difference does it make to us?
2. Jesus is a high priest who didn't just bring a sacrifice to God - He became the sacrifice! Why is this such an important aspect of Christianity? How does the resurrection make it even more important?
3. What are some things in our lives that cause us to forget about the power of the resurrection? What are the things that make us think about it more seriously?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Coming Apart at the Seams
Hebrews 4:14-5:4

Questions for further discussion:
1. What connections do you see between Hebrews 2:17-18 and Hebrews 4:14-16? Why do you think it is significant that the Pastor is making this point so strongly? Does this give you confidence? Why or why not?

2. What is the significance of Jesus's "passing through the heavens"? Why is this better than what the High Priest did?

3. How do you "hold fast our confession"?

4. What holds you back from entering with "confidence" to the throne of grace?

Coming Apart at the Seams

This week's passage - Hebrews 4:1-13

Questions For Further Discussion
1. What has been your understanding of rest? How does it differ from the Biblical idea of rest?
2. Read Hebrews 4:2 in light of Romans 10:16-18 - what is the necessary connection between hearing and believing? How is this connection made?
3. Read Numbers 14:39-45. There seems to be a lack of grace on God's part. Why do you think God dealt with his people this way? How does the the author of Hebrews use this event to actually demonstrate God's grace?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Text: Hebrews 3:7-19

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Do you have any beliefs or convictions about God that are difficult to support with Scripture? Where did they come from?
2. According to verse 13, we need each other to avoid being deceived. What are some practical ways this can work?
3. In your Bibles, follow the path from Numbers 14 to Psalm 95 to Hebrews 3. How are the circumstances different for each? The main idea is a warning against unbelief - but what else can we learn from these passages?

Coming Apart at the Seams

This weeks message comes from Hebrews 3:1-6.

Questions For Further Discussion
1. Read Numbers chapter 12 and discuss how significant Moses was. What privilege was he given? What power did he have? Why would people tend to see him as "super-human?"
2. Read Galatians 3:1-5 and Romans 3:21-24. Compared to Hebrews 3, how are the apostle Paul's statements both similar and different?
3. What are the types of "Moses'" you turn to when life comes apart at the seams?
4. What are the practical, day to day disciplines you can exercise to "fix your thoughts on Jesus?" Be specific.

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for Further Discussion
1. Metro Detroit was named the 4th most miserable city in America to live in. Foreclosures, job losses, and crime all contributed to this sad designation. The question is, how far can we go on our own - at what point do we say this is too big for us? When do we surrender and admit we must have God's help, and that only Jesus can save us?
2. If God intimately knows just how bad things are here on earth, then why doesn't He change things for the better?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for further discussion:

1. What is your attitude toward angels? Do you believe they exist? Do you think they are active today?
2. What difference would it make in your worship if you consciously thought about being in the presence of angels?
3. How do you think it will feel when God asks you judge the angels (1 Cor 6:3)? What does this truth tell you about what it means to be human?
4. When you consider the reality that angels are not forgiven for their sin but you can be how does that change the way you think about your salvation? (2 Peter 2:4)

Coming Apart at the Seams

Questions for further discussion:
1. What is you favorite music? Why?
2. When was the last time you felt like you heard from God? What was it like? What did you hear?
3. What are some things that make it hard for you to hear from God?
4. What do you do to try and hear from God?
5. What do you think holds you back from spending time in God's word? What do you need to do to make this a priority in your life?

Coming Apart at the Seams

Hebrews 1:1-3
Questions For Further Discussion
1. When your life has felt like it's coming apart at the seams, what are the "sure things" that you turn to?
2. "Pain avoidance" is a natural tendency for human beings, so why is it so important for us to resist this inclination?
3. There are no guarantees in life, yet we count on any number of things as "givens" every day (the sun will rise, America will be free, etc.). Can you name a few more? If they suddenly disappear or change tomorrow, what will you do?

A Church For The World

Questions for Further Discussion
What's the difference between a "full life" and a "happy life?" Why do we so often confuse the two?
It's human nature to avoid pain, but are there positive aspects to suffering?
What would you like your tombstone to say? What do you have to do differently right now to make the statement a reality?
Oftentimes, living according to God's will feels confining, not freeing. What's the difference between a full life as a follower of Christ, and a full life of our own making?

A Church For The World

Questions for further discussion:
Who has had the greatest impact in your spiritual life? What made this person such a significant influence?
Have you ever helped someone take steps of faith in their spiritual journey? What was it like?
What do you think is significant about the imagery of "iron sharpening iron" ? Have you seen this happen in your life?
Of the four areas: do it, say it, ask it, lead it where do you need to begin stepping out? Where do you think you can?

A Church For The World

Questions for Further Discussion:
Why do you think "sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ" is the most important means by which we accomplish our mission?
Do you believe only certain people are gifted evangelists, or is sharing the gospel something every Christian should be doing?
How does the idea of "demonstrating and declaring" expand your understanding of sharing the gospel? Can you demonstrate without declaring, or declare without demonstrating?

A Church For The World

Questions for further discussion:
Why do you go to church?
What are some of the ways you have sought to address the "eternity" in your heart?
If the local church is described as the hospital, how must our understanding of Grace Chapel change?
What are some of the practical, day-to-day ways we can participate in "transforming the world around us"?

The Kingdom 2

1. What signs are you looking for when it comes to the kingdom of God?
2. What are some ways that you have been drawn away from living out the kingdom in your midst by looking for signs of the kingdom?
3. What is your attitude toward the everyday things of your life?
4. In what ways do you need to step into the mundane, everyday things of life and obey your king?

The Kingdom 1

1. Have you ever moved? What was it like moving into a new neighborhood? What was good? What was hard?
2. What do you think about the reality that Jesus, the God-man, dwelt among us? How does it make you feel? What do you think it would have been like to live, work, and play with Jesus?
3. Because the Holy Spirit lives in each believer the incarnation (God-in-the-flesh) is ongoing. Does your life represent this reality? What would look different in your life if you took this seriously?
more information...

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need IV

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need III

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need II

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Get What You Need I

The Time Is Now IV

The Time Has Come III

The Time Has Come II

The Time Has Come I